CURRENT SITUATION OF RICE CULTIVATION IN MEXICO: PROSPECTS FOR THE CHONTALPA REGION, TABASCO.

Rice (Oryza sativa) is a fundamental cereal in the world's diet, providing 20% of global dietary energy.In Mexico, it has been a strategic food since 2001, being relevant for national food security.However, the country has lost its self-sufficiency since the 1980s due to trade liberalization and the elimination of government support.Currently, domestic consumption far exceeds production, and the deficit is covered by imports.This integrative review analyzes the situation of the crop in Mexico, focusing on the state of Tabasco through academic literature and agroclimatic modeling.The EcoCrop model was used, using climatic data from WorldClim and edaphic data from INEGI, to identify suitable zones in Tabasco.The results show that the state has 257.9 thousand hectares with medium to high productive potential, with the municipality of Crdenas standing out with 69.7% of the very suitable area.It is estimated that, with average yields of 3 t ha -1 , Tabasco could contribute 773.7 thousand tons per year, covering 66% of imports.Historically, Tabasco promoted the crop through plans such as Chontalpa and Balancn, with strong investment in infrastructure.However, factors such as migration, lack of credit, high production costs, unfair competition from imported rice, and producer aging have caused the abandonment of the crop.Despite this, an increase in yields has been observed thanks to new varieties developed by INIFAP, reaching up to 7.8 t ha -1 .It is concluded that Tabasco presents favorable agroecological and social conditions to reactivate rice production, reduce external dependence and move towards food sovereignty.It is urgent to design public policies that promote investment, technological adoption and strengthening of the national rice production chain.