Sustentabilidad económica del cultivo de maíz amarillo duro (Zea mays L.) en el valle de Pativilca, Perú

Abstract

The cultivation of hard yellow corn (MAD) is the main activity and source of economic income for producers in the Pativilca valley. The research was carried out with the aim of determining the economic sustainability of MAD production in the Pativilca valley, Lima, Peru. Surveys with structured questions were applied to 73 MAD production units in three irrigation commissions in the Pativilca valley (Vinto, Potao and Araya). The data were processed using multicriteria analysis techniques. To find the values of the sub-indicators, scales with correlatively ordered values were established, which admit a starting point 1 and a final point 5, considering 1 as the least sustainable and 5 the maximum value. Three indicators and seven sub-indicators were identified that affect the economic dynamics of the producers under study. At the level of the three study areas, an Economic Indicator (EI) was found whose value 3 is equal to the minimum sustainability threshold, which is why it qualifies as weak sustainability according to the methodological proposal used. At the level of the irrigation commissions, Potao was sustainable with the highest EI equal to 3.55; while, the irrigation commissions of Araya Grande and Vinto with EI of 2.70 and 2.74 respectively, resulted in a low level of sustainability due to the value below the minimum threshold of sustainability established and qualify in the range of critical sustainability.