Agriculture is one of the key industries in Oaxaca. Not only does its revenue account for 15% of the state's economy, but the majority of people living in Oaxaca are farmers. Some of the most important crops grown in the region include maize, beans, squash, coffee, and mangoes, among many others. With such a reliance on this industry, there is a strong push to enhance and maintain sustainable farming methods in the region.
The farmland throughout the state is widely degraded, as a result from naturally dry conditions in combination with many years of conventional farming. With the emergence of the Green Revolution in the later part of the twentieth century, monocultures dominated the once diverse fields. The lack of biodiversity lead to a depletion of nutrients in the soil, as well as less resistance towards pests and drought. The struggle to produce great yields also influenced the application of chemical fertilizers, which only worsened the condition of the land.
By the turn of the century, it was clear that the industrial farming model would not be sustainable in Oaxaca. Organizations like the Center for Integral Farmer Development (CEDICAM) have emerged to help mitigate the damages of conventional agriculture, through efforts of reforestation, conserving soils, and implementing sustainable agriculture. Across the state, farmers have been reinstituting traditional practices, such as milpa - the polyculture of maize beans and squash. By rotating crops, avoiding synthetic fertilizers, and reducing tillage, farmers improve the health of the land, plants, and people.
The agricultural practices in Oaxaca state are in a state of transition. There is a push from the community to return to the traditional methods of farming used by ancestors, rather than continue with the conventional model. Although there is a perceived economic benefit from industrial agriculture, the failure of the Green Revolution in Oaxaca is leading the public to find more sustainable methods of food production. The efforts to benefit the agricultural system in the region are, in turn, benefiting the entire community.
Sources:
http://ecotippingpoints.org/our-stories/indepth/mexico-oaxaca-community-reforestation-mixteca-region.html
http://commondreams.org/views/2015/08/15/four-ways-mexicos-indigenous-farmers-are-practicing-agriculture-future?utm_campaign=shareaholic&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=socialnetwork
https://ceseedproduction.wordpress.com/2013/10/29/a-closer-look-at-oaxaca-mexico/
http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/mexico/Michoac-n-Zacatecas/Oaxaca.html
Great post, Sara Jean! You provide a really good snapshot of the state of agriculture in Oaxaca today and the effects of the Green Revolution. The movement to adopt more traditional farming practices is a really interesting one - these local, "grassroots" movements are just the kind of thing that you'll be learning about while you're in Oaxaca!
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