Authors : H. Gomez-Castro, J. Nahed-Toral, Q. Lopez-Tirado, T. Aleman-Santillan, M. Parra-Vazquez, S. Cortina-Villar, R. Pinto-Ruiz and F. Guevara-Hernandez
Abstract: The objective of this study was to carry out a holistic conceptualization of the sheep production system of the Tzotzil indigenous people of the Chiapas highlands region of Southeast Mexico. In this study, this system is geographically delimited and its importance described. Management, some social and cultural aspects and agricultural support policies are characterized. Researchers analyze limitations of this system and propose some alternative scenarios oriented toward achieving sustainable development of the system. Sheep raising constitutes a basic element in the identity of Tzotzil women and has great ecological, economic and socio-cultural importance. Nevertheless, current management of the system leads to irreversible deterioration of natural resources and loss of families capability for self-provisioning. Intermediaries and lack of governmental support are external factors which inhibit development of the system. Reversing this deterioration requires that sheep raising families receive appropriate technical advisory and training as well as permanent sources of financing to capitalize and reinvest part of their income into the system in order to propitiate technical change toward semi-intensification of sheep raising. In this manner, they may achieve efficiency, competitiveness and sustainability of the system.
H. Gomez-Castro, J. Nahed-Toral, Q. Lopez-Tirado, T. Aleman-Santillan, M. Parra-Vazquez, S. Cortina-Villar, R. Pinto-Ruiz and F. Guevara-Hernandez, 2011. Holistic Conceptualization of the Sheep Production System of the Chiapas Highlands. Research Journal of Biological Sciences, 6: 314-321.