Facultad de Ciencias Agronómicas

Se realiza un analisis critico teorico-practico de los conceptos de innovacion, extensionismo y transferencia de tecnologia. A partir de los mismos, de sus fundamentos metodologicos y limitaciones, se presentan algunas alternativas al modelo lineal de transferencia de tecnologia (TdT). Se discute acerca de una propuesta alternativa de innovacion, en la cual el desarrollo de alianzas efectivas y la comprension y sintesis de visiones compartidas resulta clave para enfrentar desafios y problemas del entorno, cada vez mas complejo y cambiante. Finalmente, se esbozan algunas ideas emergentes acerca de una propuesta metodologica para la gestion de procesos de innovacion a nivel local

In recent years there have been introduced to the Frailesca in Chiapas, some grass species, especially from genus Pennisetum, without any consistent evidence to be the most suitable and yielding to the different agroecosystems; such is the case of maralfalfa grass (Pennisetum sp), recently introduced. This research was carried out in Villaflores, in order to study the growth stages on dry matter yield and quality of leaf and stem components of maralfalfa grass during the dry season. This was done by using a completely randomized design with five treatments (growth stages) and three replicates per treatment. A comparison of means was performed through a Tukey multiple range test (P <0.05). Quality measurements included crude protein (CP), organic matter (OM), inorganic matter (IM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and in situ degradation of dry matter (DM). The results showed significant differences (P <0.05) between growth stages for the production of ...

En México, la idea de explorar la ECA surgió en 1999 como una oportunidad para fortalecer algunos esfuerzos previos hechos por diferentes organizaciones, las cuales habían estado trabajando en el contexto de los pequeños agricultores. Durante el año 2001, la ONG nacional llamada RED A.C. lanzó un proyecto piloto en colaboración con algunas universidades, organizaciones de agricultores, otras ONG y autoridades del gobierno de Chiapas, contando con el apoyo de la Fundación Rockefeller.

The research justification and objectives. Mexico is one of the most natural resource-rich places in the world. However, it is also a country that has shown many contrasts in the use of its resources, human relations and the overall distribution of its richness. The justification of this research lies in the question why the development of small villages in Mexico has stagnated, despite their richness in natural resources, cultural and political organisation, and the efforts made by (non)governmental agents. Specifically, the role of interveners like researchers and development practitioners in the local processes was an issue for study. In fact, some of these interveners are seen to be doing more or less the same thing in the same villages for decades. They experiment with technology options or other development initiatives without having an effective relation with the villagers themselves and without a deep inquiry of the local problems – putting aside the relevance of understandi...

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PLA Notes (Notes on Participatory Learning and Action), formerly known as RRA Notes, is published three times a year in April, August, and December. Established in 1988 by the Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Livelihoods Programme (SARLs) of the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), PLA Notes enables practitioners of participatory methodologies from around the world to share their field experiences, conceptual reflections, and methodological innovations. The series is informal and seeks to publish frank accounts, address issues of practical and immediate value, encourage innovation, and act as a 'voice from the field'.

Fall armyworm larvae (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) were collected from whorl-stage corn, Zea mays (L.), between the V 2 and V 4 stages, in 22 localities of Central, Chiapas, México, called "La Frailesca" during late Jun 2009 to determine the occurrence of native entomopathogens and parasitic nematodes, and to determine the most parasitized instars. A total of 1,247 larvae were examined in search of native biological control agents. Overall total larval mortality was 16.36%. The percent larval mortality due to entomopathogens and parasitic nematodes was 12.99%. Hexamermis sp., probably albicans Siebold (Mermitha: Mermithidae) were isolated from 105 FAW larvae (8.42%) with highest incidence from the 4th, 5th, 6th and 3rd instars, respectively. A hyphomycete, Nomuraea rileyi Farlow (Samson), was recovered from 38 larvae (about 3.05% parasitism) with highest incidence in the 5th, 3rd, 4th, and 6th instars, respectively. Lowest percentage of FAW larval parasitism was caused by unidentified microsporidian or microsporidium (1.52%), infecting 19 larvae in the 6th, 5th and 3rd instars, respectively. First and 2nd instars did not show parasitism. This information is useful in designing future biological control programs.

En el estudio se identificaron y analizaron los criterios socio-antropológicos fundamentados en etnoagronomía y etnobotánica de los productores para seleccionar semillas de chayote (Sechium edule Jacq. Sw.) en zonas rurales de los municipios Villa Corzo y Villaflores (Chiapas, México). En entrevistas semi-estructuradas realizadas a 60 productores se describieron los criterios locales para seleccionar las semillas de esta hortaliza, considerando características de color, tamaño y presencia de espinas en los frutos, así como la obtención de variedades y recomendaciones para la siembra. Sin considerar la procedencia de los productores, el cultivo del chayote se realiza independientemente del tamaño, el color o la presencia de espinas en los frutos. Más de 60% de los productores entrevistados compra las semillas y prefieren aquellas variedades que posean frutos con espinas debido a su sabor agradable. Se confirmó la validez de los estudios socio-antropológicos en sistemas agrícolas tradicionales en la zona, particularmente en etnobotánica, para entender las relaciones sociales y productivas a nivel local, y para definir sistemas productivos sostenibles a partir de los criterios propios de las familias campesinas, lo que permite documentar, analizar, validar y entender multi-criterios relacionados con la producción familiar de chayote y su posible mejoramiento.

Research into sustainable agriculture has increasing come to embrace the conceptual approach of food systems, as these reflect the interface of alimentation, human activities, public policies, cultural norms and social well-being, along with land, farms, ecosystems, and economies. The complex interactions between these processes at distinct scales, and involving various institutional and economic actors, may produce the outcome of food security. The food system approach may be useful for developing cohesive strategies across policy sectors, including agrarian and land access sectors, natural resource and environmental management, agriculture, trade, economy, industry, science and technology, health, and education, among others (Ericksen et al. 2010). Efforts to achieve food system sustainability in the midst of global environmental and economic changes are beginning to coalesce around certain concepts that help determine the most significant problems in food systems and identify management strategies at several levels of analysis (farm, community, national, international) to increase social, ecological, and economic sustainability (Pretty et al. 2011). Social-Ecological Resilience and Maize Farming in Chiapas, Mexico 495 Scales of variables Food system components Spatial Scales Microbiological soil ecology, nutrition assimilation, chemical exposure to organisms Field net primary productivity, cost of production, maize yield, planned agrobiodiversity, diversity of associated plant and insect species, soil health, use of trees, use of organic fertilizers, pest and plant disease Community/landscape attitudes, knowledge, organization, experimentation, crop diversity, outmigration, conflict, human health, nutrition, economic necessity, access to social assets, access to land, landscape matrix quality Subregional health indicators, land use, public policies, level of influence of agribusiness, growing seasons, farm prices, social equality, farmer organizations, political economy and actors, capacity for self-reliance in key crops National food policy, environmental policy, trade policy, agrarian policy, education policy, health care policy, popular participation in democracy, adaptive governance, level of influence of transnational corporations Global climate change, global social movements, capitalism Temporal Scales Hourly, Daily or Weekly food security, physical activity, household labors, planting dates, weed control, soil biological processes Seasonal production cycles, climate factors, weed and insect communities, off-farm income, farm prices, training programs, implementation of government supports Annual farm productivity, learning-by-experimentation, community demographics, government policies, farm prices Decade-level soil erosion and compaction, landscape mosaic quality, land use changes, trade policy, market influences, climate change, crop suitability Longer-term land use, population factors, national sovereignty, world economic system

List of tables v List of figures v List of boxes v Acronyms and abbreviations vi Acknowledgements vii Chapter 1 Introduction 1.1 About this thesis 1.2 Research problem 1.3 Objectives 1.4 Research questions and sub-questions 1.5 Research approach 1.6 Outline Chapter 2 Conceptual framework and research methodology: towards a study on small villages, their governance and development 2.1 Conceptual framework Small societies: complex configurations The community: a dynamic and complex society The concept of community Community studies: some socio-anthropological perspectives a) By looking at social order and its role b) By looking at social structure and its local implications Power structures and the creation of social spaces for action About institutions and organisations: elements of social structure c) Examining 'front' and 'back' stage/region 2.2 Research methodology, methods and tools The research space Local levels and the importance of contextualising the villages The Mexican unit of local levels: communities, towns or villages Labelling villages: an agrarian question Villages studied El Oro: main characteristics Contents iii 1) Description of actors and their action spaces 2) The main highlights 3) Main implications for the village Reasons to participate Role of leadership Role of knowledge and technology Role of interveners Local contradictions or opportunities seized? 4) General considerations Case B: California, Chiapas State 1) Description of actors and their action spaces 2) The main highlights 3) Main implications for the village Reasons to participate Role of leadership Role of knowledge and technology Role of interveners 4) General considerations 6.3 Final remarks Chapter 7 Lack of information Shame and pride: the village's image and mutual support 7.3 Final remarks Chapter 8 Local insights on empowerment and development: perceptions and assessment efforts in small villages of Southern Mexico 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Context 8.3 Findings Analysing local notions of empowerment: a participatory exercise Criteria, areas and indicators 8.4 Case A. El Oro, Oaxaca State Village (collective) empowerment-development Individual (personal) empowerment-development Some particular villager cases What do these villagers do to be or feel empowered? 8.5 Case B: California, Chiapas State Village (collective) empowerment-development Individual (personal) empowerment-development Some particular villager cases What do these villagers do to be or feel empowered? 8.6 Overall similarities and differences: El Oro and California compared 8.7 Final remarks Chapter 9 Final reflections 9.1 Introduction 9.2 Small villages as social systems Usos y Costumbres: An administrative system reflecting local values A political system with spaces for dialogue U&C as a capacity building mechanism Social cohesion of the villages Inclusion and exclusion in the social system Social cohesion and the back stage Lack of future orientation Cracks in the system Conditioned participation and social discomfort 'Back stage' events and flexibility Adaptation and resilience of the system 9.3 Local development as a process 9.4 Implications for practitioners and interventions Development as meaning and process: two development directions Methodological aspects PAR: an opportunity for blending participatory and anthropological approaches 9.5 Final considerations Doing development differently? A checklist for local development through participation References Appendices Summary Resumen Samenvatting About the author Completed training and supervision plan (TSP) Funding Contents v List of tables 2.1 Most important historical moments of El Oro identified during the workshops 2.2 Most important historical moments of California identified during the workshops 2.3 Village history 2.4 Village current configuration 2.5 Village problems and status 2.6 Main characteristics of the interviewees in each village 5.1 Main actors emerging from the power mapping in El Oro, Oaxaca 5.2 Main actors emerging from the power mapping in California, Chiapas 6.1 Main instances of non-recognised actors and their spaces of action in El Oro, Oaxaca 6.2 Main instances of non-recognised actors and their spaces of action in California, Chiapas 8.1 Scale or range of values for the codification of answers 8.2 Meanings and expressions associated with progreso as an 'empowerment-development' process at village level 8.3 Components of local empowerment-development identified with the villagers of El Oro and California 8.4 Areas of local development with the highest and lowest rankings 8.5 Values of most relevant areas in terms of empowerment-development for each village List of figures 1.1 Conceptual framework and route followed to study complexity of small villages 'from below' 2.1 Levels of action with interventions, according to Uphoff (1986) 2.2 Local levels and research space covered in this research, with a particular attention to the villages 2.3 Localisation of the states of Oaxaca and Chiapas, and the villages El Oro, Santo Domingo Nuxaá and California, Villa Flores 2.4 Representation of two learning cycles according to the proposed PAR methodology 3.1 Mexico's rural context and its diversity of intervening agents 4.1 Mexican jurisprudence 5.1 The power map developed through participatory means at El Oro, Santo Domingo Nuxaá, Oaxaca in 2003-2004 5.2 The power map developed through participatory means at California, Villa Flores, Chiapas in 2003-2004 8.1 'Amoebas' picturing collective progreso (empowerment-development) in El Oro 8.2 'Amoebas' picturing personal progreso (empowerment-development) for villagers in El Oro 8.3 Personal importance given to the local development areas by four persons from El Oro 8.4 Personal capacities-empowerment of four persons from El Oro 8.5 'Amoebas' picturing collective progreso (empowerment-development) for villagers in California 8.6 'Amoebas' picturing personal progreso (empowerment-development) for villagers in California 8.7 Personal importance given to the local development areas by four persons from California 8.8 Personal capacities-empowerment of four persons from California 9.1 Decoding and projection of the black box of local development as process into the Mexican context List of boxes 6.1 Presbyterian church 6.2 Catholic church 6.3 Forest nursery 6.4 Women's working group 6.5 The López and Sánchez families 6.6 The communal museum 6.7 The working women's group 'peasant woman 1' (PW1) 6.8 The working women's group 'peasant woman' (PW) 6.9 The Martínez family 6.10 The Adventist churches 1 & 2 6.11 The Pentecostal church 6.12 The Catholic church 6.13 The bean growers 6.14 The bus committee Contents vi Acronyms and abbreviations

Palabras clave: sistemas silvopastoriles, leñosas forrajeras, ecuaciones de predicción, biomasa, secuestro de carbono, servicios ambientales, innovación tecnológica. Summary Estimations of aerial biomass and secuestred carbon in Gliricidia sepium (lam.) and Leucaena leucocephala (jacq.) and its application in silvopastoral systems