Erosión de suelos y carencia alimentaria en México: Una primera aproximación


Por: Cotler H., Corona J.A., Mauricio Galeana-Pizaña J.

Publicada: 1 ene 2020
Resumen:
Degradation of soil quality due to fertility loss and erosion can hamper food security and self-sufficiency, which would mostly impact small subsistence farmers and exacerbate food poverty. Degradation affects nearly half of Mexican soils, but its effects on food self-sufficiency have been poorly investigated. This study conducted an initial cartographic and statistical analysis of the relationship between erosion in rain-fed agricultural soils, whose production destination is self-consumption, and food deficiency in Mexico. Country-wide, cartographic and statistical data from official sources were used, including series V of the INEGI Land-Use and Vegetation chart (scale 1: 250,000), the map of human-induced soil degradation (scale 1: 250,000), results from the VIII Agricultural, Livestock and Forestry census (2007), and Poverty reports (2010, 2012 and 2014). By overlaying such maps, we identified the polygons classified as rain-fed agriculture, affected by water erosion, and whose production was entirely or partially intended for self-consumption. This information was correlated with food deficiency data per municipality. To examine the relationship between the surface area dedicated to rain-fed annual crops, affected by water erosion, and the population with limited access to food, a linear correlation analysis was carried out using Pearson's coefficient. Our early results show that 16% of rain-fed agricultural land is affected by erosion to some extent. These areas are distributed across 27 states. Agricultural Production Units dedicated to rain-fed agriculture, affected by erosion and whose production is intended for self-consumption (UPAE), occur in 41% of the linkage between erosion in rain-fed agricultural soils and food deficiency among the population at an aggregate level in Mexico. The states that most contribute to this correlation are Guerrero, Michoacán, Guanajuato, and State of Mexico. Soil degradation affects the food security of producers as well as the sovereignty of the country. These concerns, which are stated as three sustainable development goals (SDGs), demand comprehensive attention in order to implement policies to improve soil quality and develop sustainable agricultural practices, accompanied by rural development. © 2020 Instituto de Geografia. All rights reserved.

Filiaciones:
Cotler H.:
 Centro de Investigación en Ciencias de Información Geoespacial., Calle Contoy 136, Lomas de Padierna, Tlalpan, Ciudad de México, 14240, Mexico

Corona J.A.:
 Colegio de Geografía, Facultad de Filosofía y Letras, Unversidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Circuito Interior. Ciudad Universitaria s/n., Ciudad de México, 04510, Mexico

Mauricio Galeana-Pizaña J.:
 Centro de Investigación en Ciencias de Información Geoespacial., Calle Contoy 136, Lomas de Padierna, Tlalpan, Ciudad de México, 14240, Mexico
ISSN: 01884611
Editorial
Instituto de Geografia, México
Tipo de documento: Article
Volumen: Número: 101
Páginas: