SOCIO-ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF SMALLHOLDER (PEASANT) DAIRY FARMING IN THE TOLUCA VALLEY. I. INITIAL ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
Small scale dairy farming may be a rural development option in the Valley of Toluca given its ability to survive in harsh economic situations. A broad participatory research and extension project was initiated as a result of the invitation of members of Ejido San Cristóbal, located in Almoloya de Juárez, State of México, with the goal of improving, jointly with the peasants, their livelihood by increasing the productivity and sustainability of their dairy production systems; as well as generating knowledge on the potential of dairying for rural development. The objective of this research was to undertake the preliminary economic analysis of current dairy production in this community, following a participatory research and development methodology with 23 of 43 dairy farmers through the elaboration of partial budgets. Results indicated that smallholder dairy production has higher gross margins per hectare than maize (Zea mays L.) cropping, and is an important source of income for smallholder families. Milk production represents 64 % of the margins per hectare of the traditional maize (straw)-cattle system. Herds of more than five cows give profitable returns. The area assigned for forage production has a margin per hectare 3.0 times higher than that of the maize crop, and is 95.6 % higher than the income per hectare in the traditional system. Farmers with herds of less than five cows could increase their margins by allocating more area to the production of good quality forage. The main component of variable costs is feeding, and the highest cash expenditures are on compound feed purchases. The results show the great potential to improve the productive and economic efficiency of these systems by means of optimizing the use of high quality forages.
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Digital revista |
| Language: | spa |
| Published: |
Colegio de Postgraduados
1999
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| Online Access: | https://www.agrociencia-colpos.org/index.php/agrociencia/article/view/1636 |
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