Perceptions of change in horticultural subsistence strategies in a rural Mexican community: San Francisco Pichátaro, Michoacán

Amy Elizabeth Snively-Martinez

Horticultural subsistence strategies have been an important aspect of indigenous communities throughout the world for centuries. However, in today's world economy they are losing importance as more and more rural communities participate in the global market economy. The disappearance of subsistence strategies should not be ignored, as they are important to indigenous households, communities, and local environments for four reasons: (1) local ecological knowledge, (2) local crop biodiversity, (3) household food security, and (4) sustainable agriculture practices. Mexico is a country where many indigenous groups still reside and carry on practices of local environmental management. Many communities in Mexico still depend on subsistence strategies for survival, however this situation is changing. As Mexico has become more involved throughout the last three decades in the world market, local communities have been adversely affected. Two theories address how change is affecting local subsistence practices such as home gardens. The first theory states that as rural and indigenous communities increasingly participate in the market economy, they are more likely to dismiss home gardening as a subsistence practice. A second and contrasting theory assumes that home gardens are adaptable to market-oriented conditions and, thus, will persist through the continued adaptation of new crops in relation to market participation. The purpose of this thesis is to explore to what degree and how horticultural subsistence strategies are changing in an indigenous rural Mexican community. A case study research design was utilized to explore change, and perceptions of change that is occurring in home garden practices of San Francisco Pichátaro, Michoacán. Research methods included in-depth interviews of nine home garden owners, a community-wide socioeconomic survey, participant observation, and secondary data collection. I found that change is occurring in Pichátaro regarding agricultural activities and that for the most part community members are conscious of that change. A hybrid of the two previously mentioned theories is occurring, with home gardens adapting to increasing market participation during the last four decades, however most recently a shift from household participation in diversified on-farm activities to specialized off-farm activities is occurring, leading to abandonment of many home gardens in the community.

Perceptions of change in horticultural subsistence strategies in a rural Mexican community: San Francisco Pichátaro, Michoacán

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