RISK FACTORS AND PROTECTION STRATEGIES IN SMALL AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION UNITS IN THE STATES OF TABASCO, GUERRERO, AND CHIAPAS, MEXICO

There are currently multiple risks in Mexico’s agricultural sector, so it is critical to have concise and accurate information on the main mitigating factors faced by producers in order to contribute to the creation of risk management instruments that meet their needs. In this work, the unit of analysis was established on the basis of a census of 6852 small farmers (those with less than five hectares of sown area). Using a stratified sampling of 317 producers in the states of Tabasco, Guerrero, and Chiapas, risk management was analyzed in their production units. The sampling, with a precision level of 5 % and a reliability of 95 %, allowed obtaining representative results for the target population. Through a descriptive analysis, the profile of the producers was identified, detecting the main risks they face and the strategies they use to mitigate them. Frequency graphs were used to visualize the distribution of the variables analyzed. To evaluate the relationship between risk management and risk perception, chi-square and Cramér’s V contingency tests were applied. This study revealed a statistically significant relationship among 9 out of 13 risks analyzed and the risk management. In only six cases, the strength of association is moderate. This suggests that different tools exist to mitigate various hazards (natural disasters, pests and diseases, input prices, etc.), but their effectiveness varies by type. In the face of an adverse situation, producers often resort to strategies such as reducing food at home, using savings, and relying on government support. This study provides specific data on the specific conditions and challenges of these regions, enriching the general knowledge on family farming in Mexico.