CARACTERIZACIÓN DE LOS PRODUCTORES DE CHILE JALAPEÑO EN QUINTANA ROO, MÉXICO

The chili pepper (Capsicum annuum) is a staple of our festivals, traditions, and cuisines. The varieties and options for its use vary depending on the region of the country, from fresh consumption to pickling. Among the main types of chili peppers, the jalapeño pepper stands out due to its demand in the domestic and export markets. In the state of Quintana Roo, it was a popular crop; however, the area under cultivation has decreased in recent years. For this reason, a cross-sectional, descriptive study was proposed to characterize crop management among local producers. Information was obtained from a survey of producers and visits to their plots located in the main municipalities where jalapeños are planted, such as Bacalar, Felipe Carrillo Puerto and Othón P. Blanco. With the information collected, an Agricultural Technology Appropriation Index (ATAI) was constructed to assess crop management and classify producers into three categories: high, medium, and low technology appropriation. It was found that 77% of producers were in the medium category, 17% were low, and 6% were high in appropriation of the agricultural technology used for jalapeño production. Yields increased across IATA categories (low 5.2 t/ha, medium 7.4 t/ha, and high 8.2 t/ha). The most widely adopted technological components were: planting date (84.6%) and the use of recommended varieties (59.6%). Deficiencies were identified in planting density (distance between rows), timing of application, and optimal input quantities. The activities with the lowest adoption among producers were: foliar fertilization (88.5%), weed control (55.8%), and disease control (51.9%). Inadequate crop management was reflected in low yields and poor fruit quality.