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Farmer preferences for milpa diversity and genetically modified maize in Mexico: a latent class approach

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2009

EKIN BIROL ,
ERIC RAYN VILLALBA  and
MELINDA SMALE
EKIN BIROL
Affiliation:
International Food Policy Research Institute, 2033 K Street, NW, Washington DC, 20006, USA. Email: [email protected]
ERIC RAYN VILLALBA
Affiliation:
Department of Geography, University College London, UK
MELINDA SMALE
Affiliation:
Oxfam America, USA
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Abstract

Maize originated in Mexico, where it is typically grown in association with other crops in the milpa system. This ancient mode of production is practiced today in ways that vary by cultural context and agro-environment. We use a choice experiment to estimate farmers' valuation of three components of agrobiodiversity (crop species richness, maize variety richness, and maize landraces) in the milpa system, and examine their interest in cultivating genetically modified (GM) maize. We apply a latent class model to data collected from 382 farm households in the states of Jalisco, Oaxaca, and Michoacán to analyze the heterogeneity of farmer preferences. We identify the characteristics of farmers who are most likely to continue growing maize landraces, as well as those least likely to accept GM maize. Findings have implications for debates concerning the introduction of GM maize and the design of in situ conservation programs in these sites.

Type
Research Article
Information
Environment and Development Economics , Volume 14 , Issue 4 , August 2009 , pp. 521 - 540
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

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