Abstract

HERRERA-PEREZ, Lusmila et al. Agricultural contract Plans for the Production of Agave tequilana Weber in the Region of Tequila, Jalisco. agric. soc. desarro [online]. 2018, vol.15, n.4, pp.619-637. ISSN 1870-5472.

The production of Agave tequilana Weber var. azul suffers cyclical crises derived from the fluctuations of agave prices and periods of oversupply and scarcity of the product in the market. The establishment of production and buying and selling contracts between agaveros (agave producers) and tequila industries has been one of the alternatives proposed to reduce the effects of these cyclic crises and stabilize the agave market. The objective of this study was to identify the types of contracting for the production and commercialization of Agave tequilana in the productive chain of agave-tequila in the municipality of Tequila, Jalisco. A sample of 50 agave producers selected randomly were surveyed, who produced agave under three types of contracts: a) Leasing; b) Share-cropping; and c) Tenant farming (métayage). Contract by leasing is the most frequent plan and has displaced the informal plans of share-cropping and tenant farming. The lessors carry out agave cultivation mainly as monoculture, and the sharecroppers and tenant farmers (metayer) in polyculture. The common factor between share-cropping and tenant farming is that the owners have access to their plots, and the main difference lies in the form of appropriation of the agave harvest.

Keywords : agave; share-cropping; leasing; tequila industry; tenant farming.

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