Characterization of agricultural practices in the community Mulato Viejo in Oaxaca

ABSTRACT Objective: Document the standard of living of the "Mulato Viejo" community, their culture and agricultural practices in light of current development policies. Design/methodology/approach: The study was carried out during the year of 2019, applying surveys and interviews using key informants with experience in community positions. Results: The results showed that families practice some traditional farming techniques with family labor. A delay was also observed in the incorporation of women (5.5%) and in the generational rotation of producers, 84% are over 40 years old and of these 69% only have primary education, so they do not know the fundamentals of agricultural practices used, this limits the use of machinery to reduce workload, production costs or innovate Limitations on study/implications: The main limitation was the sample size and the repeatability of the study, a single community was analyzed. It is proposed to extend to other communities with similar characteristics Findings/conclusions: Semi-traditional agriculture has preserved the local maize races. However, it is necessary for the community to incorporate dynamics that diversify agricultural activities, crops, establish intra-community cooperation and trade networks, so that agricultural activities are a profitable economic option for the new generations, who would have a greater capacity to acquire the foundations of a sustainable agriculture that improves its yield but, with the challenge of keeping traditional agricultural practices intact Keywords: Mulato Viejo, rural nucleus, solidarity networks.Objective: To describe the standard of living in the "Mulato Viejo" community; culture and their agricultural practices facing the current governmental development policies. Design/methodology/approach: The study was conducted during 2019, applying surveys and interviews to key informants with experience in community-elected positions. Results: The results showed that families practice some traditional farming techniques based on family labor. There was also a lag in the incorporation of women (5.5%), and in the generational renewal of producers. For example, 84% are older than 40 years-old and out of those, only 69% completed elementary education. Thus, they do not know the rationality fundamentals of the agricultural practices they use. This limits the use of machinery to reduce the workload and the production costs, or to innovate. Study limitations/implications: The main limitations were the sample size and the replicability of the study; a single community was analyzed. It is proposed then to expand the study to other communities with similar characteristics. Findings/conclusions: Semi-traditional agriculture has preserved local landraces of maize. Yet, it is necessary for the community to incorporate dynamics that may diversify agricultural activities, crops; and allow establishing networks of cooperation and intra-community trade. So that agricultural activities may become an economic option profitable to further generations, who would have a greater capacity to acquire the bases for a sustainable agriculture. With the goal to improve yield but, with the challenge of keeping the traditional agricultural practices intact