19 novembre 2018
https://www.openedition.org/12554 , info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
Eric Léonard, « 4. Transformations et crise d’un système agraire (1960-1990) », IRD Éditions, ID : 10.4000/books.irdeditions.15143
In the early 1960s, agrarian society had to face various crisis factors. A new generation of producers demanded access to land and division by inheritance resulted in the division of a fair number of plots, resulting in holdings that were not large enough to cover the minimum requirements of a family. The official policy of supplying urban centres at low cost simultaneously contributed to reducing the prices paid to maize and sesame producers. Faced with competition front regions where the second agricultural revolution had spread rapidly and enabled an increase in labour productivity, farmers’ incomes dwindled rapidly.The cattle breaders themselves were shut out of the Mexico City market by ranchos in the humid tropics whose production conditions were much more favourable. However, the demand for animals less than 18 months old developed in this fattening area and enabled cattle breaders in the Tierra Caliente region to specialise in the extensive production of calves. Development of the road System disenclaved the region in 1970 and facilitated the arrival of cattle buyers and the transport of young animals and also enhanced the importing of cheap maize. Changes in the macroeconomic environment thus led to a decline in food crop and sesame production while extensive cattle farming was the only activity in which there was a return on labour.This specialisation was accentuated by the diffusion of new means of production (motorised mechanisation, Chemical fertilisers and pesticides). However, the resulting increase in field crop yields did not compensate either the fall in farm prices or the decreased productivity of farm labour. In contrast, that of the large livestock farmers increased considerably. By purchasing tractors they were able to increase the areas that they cultivated themselves and remain the masters of motive force. The extension of sorghum and the use of fertilisers and herbicide resulted in larger quantities of crop residues and they were able to build up fodder reserves.These conditions enhanced the rapid growth of herds. The number of head of cattle was multiplied by three in less than thirty years. Livestock pressure on undivided rangeland therefore increased considerably and overgrazing became so common as to threaten the livestock System that had been functioning since agrarian reform. The exhaustion of grazing land led to the appropriation of undivided land by livestock farmers. Each one attempted to enclose and defend as large an area of grazing land as possible. The capital accumulated by each producer and his ability to finance fencing set the limits of this appropriation. Enclosure also spread to the plots of small ejidatarios which were enclosed by the cattlemen in exchange for rights of commonage for crop residues. This land appropriation finally elbowed out the small farmers by taking from them all possibility of undertaking similar specialisation in cattle breeding. The lag in accumulation had become final. Small producers were limited to forage production for the large operators and to the sale of their own labour.