Luz E. Padilla-Bernal

Disponibilidad para ahorrar agua de uso agrícola en México: caso de los acuíferos de Calera y Chupaderos

Calera and Chupaderos are two of the most overused aquifers from the drainage area of the North Central Basin; these provide water to the central part of the state of Zacatecas. Agriculture consumes 88% of the water withdrawn from aquifers. Most irrigation systems are inefficient, wasting around 40% to 60% of water. Overexploitation of aquifers threatens against the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. This study was conducted to determine the willingness to accept (WTA) save water from producers, users from aquifers of Calera and Chupaderos, in exchange for a governmental, monetary or technological support. The contingent valuation method was used, obtaining information through a survey applied to a representative sample of producers. The data was processed using a probit model of multiple intervals applying the maximum likelihood estimation. Producers expressed high willingness to save farm water in exchange for new technology. This change would make possible to reduce the consumption of water in farm water without affecting the level of productivity, with the possibility of reducing pumping costs. The DAA save water per hectare was 21.2% and 22.4% for aquifers from Calera and Chupaderos, of the 6 000 m 3 ha -1 year -1 concession. This represents a saving of 1 272 m 3 ha -1 year -1 and 1 344 m 3 ha -1 year -1 of water per aquifer, same

Views on sustainability and the willingness to adopt an environmental management system in the Mexican vegetable sector

In Mexico, agriculture’s main environmental problems are related to water resources, deforestation and soil erosion. These problems are more acute in arid or semiarid regions such as in the state of Zacatecas. Environmental management systems (EMS) can be an alternate means for improving environmental conditions. In this study, factors that determine willingness to adopt an EMS in the vegetable production units of the state of Zacatecas were identified. We also analysed views on sustainability and production practices oriented toward environmental management and care of natural resources, as well as drivers and barriers to EMS adoption. Factors determining EMS adoption were level of education, awareness of the importance of caring for and protecting natural resources, application of agricultural practices oriented toward protecting the environment, and ignorance of environmental problems.

Competitividad, eficiencia e impacto ambiental de la producción de frijol (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) en Zacatecas, México

A principios de la decada de los noventa en Mexico se iniciaron una serie de programas para coadyuvar a la competitividad de los productores rurales frente al retiro del estado en el apoyo a la produccion, comercializacion y servicios sectoriales, asi como en su incorporacion en el proceso de liberalizacion comercial. Zacatecas es el principal productor de frijol (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) nacional. La mayor parte de la produccion se cultiva en temporal. Escasa precipitacion pluvial, baja eficiencia en riego agricola y sobreexplotacion de los acuiferos provoca danos ambientales. El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar el impacto de la politica agricola en los sistemas de produccion de frijol del estado de Zacatecas a traves de la determinacion de las tecnologias de produccion competitivas y eficientes, considerando las fallas de mercado relacionadas al ambiente. Se determinaron los indicadores de competitividad y eficiencia a traves de la aplicacion de la matriz de analisis de politica ampliada (MAPA). La investigacion se desarrollo con informacion del ciclo agricola primavera-verano 2009. El marco de analisis fueron los Distritos de Desarrollo Rural de Zacatecas, Fresnillo, Rio Grande y Ojocaliente. Con excepcion de las tecnologias TCS del DDR de Zacatecas, BCF y TCS de Ojocaliente, todos los sistemas de produccion mostraron ser competitivos en la situacion actual. Los sistemas de produccion cultivados con tecnologias competitivas tambien resultaron eficientes, exceptuando el TCSL de Fresnillo y BMF de Ojocaliente. La adopcion de practicas sostenibles reducira el deterioro de la competitividad y eficiencia de los sistemas de produccion