Resumo

CASAS-CAZARES, Ricardo et al. Sustainability and the strategy used in smallholding farming agroecosystems in Oaxaca valles centrales. Agrociencia [online]. 2009, vol.43, n.3, pp.319-331. ISSN 2521-9766.

Despite the world consensus over the importance of reaching sustainability, there is no agreement on the way to quantify it in order to make practical decisions that may channel sustainable development. In this study, the Sustainability Relative Index (IRS, its Spanish acronym) was developed and applied to evaluate sustainability in three agroecosystems of the Valles Centrales of the state of Oaxaca, México. The values for each agroecosystem and the region are obtained through the selection, weight and qualification of a general list of variables which are reduced by applying discriminant functions and are associated with a proposal to promote sustainability. The agroecosystems evaluated show differences in the contribution of their dimensions (α=0.0001) and their sustainability. The sustainability of the Valles Centrales is qualified as very low and its major limitation is its poor economic dimension. Soil fertility and bulk density, livestock sale and the possibility of women's empowerment in community public positions and their generation of income are some of the variables to be considered in a proposal to promote regional sustainability.

Palavras-chave : Agroecosystems; strategy; evaluation; Oaxaca; sustainability.

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