Productivity of vanilla (Vanilla planifolia Jacks. ex Andrews) in Mexico from 2003 to 2014

Abstract

The production of vanilla (Vanilla planifolia) in Mexico has decreased as a result of a scarce application of technological packages adapted to the edaphoclimatic conditions of the crop. To test this hypothesis, an analysis of productivity was carried out from 2003 to 2014 at the international level, through means tests of Tukey, and at the national level with the model of decomposition of factors of production growth proposed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Results showed that in the study period, Mexico did not increase its export of vanilla internationally due to the low sown area that was destined to the crop. In the national context for the period 2009-2014 compared to 2003-2008 there was an increase in production of 2.5 % in response to field yields (2.0 %). This was registered by 14 of the 52 municipalities involved, which presented a 1.6 % increase in the planted area and 1.8 % in the field, which contrasts with the drop in production (-0.1 %) of the remaining 38 municipalities, which came from a reduction in the cultivated area (-2.3 %). These results indicate that despite the good field yields obtained from 2009-2014, the country has not been able to increase its productivity at the international level, mainly due to the scarce surface planted and the lack of technology transfer to boost the development of the sector.