Homegarden: Chickens (Avis spp.), Turkeys, Pigs, and Cattle (Bos indicus)

Agroforestry Systems: Goats and Sheep

Integration of agroecological alternatives such as: green manure and cover crops based systems (largely based on use of legumes, intercropping, minimum tillage, rotations, mulch management, improved local and introduced varieties), agroforestry systems (based on goats and sheeps managed under fodder, firewood, fruits and timber trees, and grasses), organic intensified horticultural systems (using integrated pest mangement (IPM), rotations, improved "ka'anche", composting, and intercropping), and intensive production of local landraces (such as "cashpelona" chickens); and the spreading out of different agroecological practices, technologies and managements such as: IPM, composting and fertility management, water management (rope's pumping), and biodiversity management (intercropping, mixed farming and rotations).  

About the agroecological alternatives: some keys for the success have been starting from knowledge of traditional agricultural systems and the environment, diversification, use of local resources, use of local landraces, recovering of local varieties, intercropping and rotation schemes, improving fertility with local-internal improved inputs, synchronization of nutrient fertility and availability with the improvement of soil life and organic matter as well as water (through mulch and soil management, sowing dates, and intercropping patterns), use of plant-plant and plant-insect positive interactions as base for IPM plans, and further integration of animals with crop products and byproducts.

About the strategy: Agroecological alternatives are developed, tested and transferred through participatory farmers' adoption processes through schemes such as farmer to farmer, farmers' experimentation, farmers' field schools, training centers for farmers, "campesinos" local promoters, and microcredit systems. Encouraging knowledge and learning based alternatives (including farmers in research, development, design, testing, training, promotion and extension of the alternatives) is the best path for sustainability of adoption processes and rural development.  

Use Renewable Resources

Highly labor based systems with low use of fossil energy, relying mostly on highly efficient cultural management practices.

Minimize Toxics

Low application of agrochemicals in the agroecosystems, inoculants, plant regulation substances, and chemical fertilizers to the land.

Conserve Resources

Efficient management of water and diversification with native landraces.

Manage Ecological Relationships

Intercropping of green manure and cover cropping legumes with maize.

Adjust to Local Environments

Diversification of milpa according to soils heterogeneity and topography, under rainfed conditions.

Diversify

Intercropping and more intensive rotations with local native landraces and some highly adapted introduced species and varieties of crops allow farmers increase the agrobiodiversity at different scales (farm, community, landscape and region), while respecting the forest at the same time.

Empower People

Include local people in the decision making process, through the use of highly extended participatory training processes, encouraging networks of "campesinos" promoters directly linked to local farmers, and encouraging microcredit schemes.

Manage Whole Systems

Integration of products and byproducts of green manure and cover crops based on milpa systems with animals feeding in agroforestry systems and using residues from both for producing enriched compost allows farmers better maneuvering capacities to manage their farming systems though resources allocation, low external inputs use, and improved rotations and intercropping schemes.

Maximize Long-Term Benefits

Green manure, cover cropping, and agroforestry systems are the best examples of obtaining long-term based benefits with higher returns to labor, capital, and land after some years of adoption, and have proven to do better as compared with their best competitive conventional alternatives.

Value Health

Low use of agrochemicals, by reducing the frequency and quantity of sprayings of herbicides and pesticides will largely improve the health safety for farmers in the region.