Situation of cotton production in La Comarca Lagunera

Abstract

In Mexico, cotton is sown to obtain fiber for the textile industry. Nonetheless, it is also one of the five main crops of importance in the production of vegetable oils. La Comarca Lagunera has been characterized as a traditionally cotton-growing area; however, the crop has lost importance due to the little support it receives and in recent years (2005-2021), the sown area decreased 37.3% and production has been concentrated in the municipalities of San Pedro de las Colonias and Francisco I. Madero. The objective of this study was to characterize the cotton production system in this area. It was hypothesized that producers with larger areas obtain higher yields. To calculate the sample, the register of producers was used and a sample of 80 was determined with simple random sampling at a confidence level of 95%. The information was collected through a survey that included technical and socioeconomic aspects and the survey was carried out from July 2022 to January 2023. The results showed that producers with larger areas are younger, have a better educational level, obtain higher yields, and that the greater the area sown, the higher the rent of land and water. It is concluded that cotton cultivation in La Comarca Lagunera requires supportive public policies to remain.