UNAM
Revista Digital Universitaria
Revista Digital Universitaria ISSN: 1607 - 6079 | Publicación mensual | 1 de febrero de 2015 vol.16, No.2

ABSTRACT

Bean culture in Mexico



Miguel Lara Flores


This paper relates the biological characteristics of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and its food significance in Mexico. Also it evaluates important aspects of agricultural production considering the geographical distribution of its varieties and the national and regional agricultural frontier. We analyzed the sown and harvested area of bean and the production volumes in the period 2002 to 2012. The analysis shows that 74% of the planted area with beans occurs in only seven states of the Republic. Furthermore we show that the bean planting area in the country has been reduced by 22% over a period of 10 years (2002-2012). Significantly, we show that the average yield (ton / ha) of bean production is 0.8 t / ha and only seven states have income above one ton per hectare. These data constrast with 1.8 ton / ha yield taken into the United States of America.



Keywords: Phaseolus, agricultural frontier, nitrogen fixation, varieties, production performance.