Integral Production Model for Small Farmers Based on Agroforestry Principles for the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

Monoculture is a highly productive cropping system in temperate zones, but ineffective under tropical conditions due to the rapid loss of nutrients from the soil and high competition between weeds and crops. It is an urgent task to test new technological and productive models more appropriate for small peasant farmers in the tropics of Mexico. This work aimed to assess a new agroforestry model proposed by researchers and local farmers as an alternative to improve the Production of Family Units (PFU) in the countryside of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. It was confirmed that the model is adequate to capitalize the PFU if technological innovations can be adopted. The integral production model allowed a productive diversification of species such as: medicinal plants, basic grains, vegetables, fruit trees, wood for constructions, precious woods, firewood, milk, bovine, pork, eggs, and poultry, among others. Economically, the model proved to be able to satisfy the self-consumption needs of the PFU, but with important restrictions to satisfy the abroad market.