Agriculture

In direct contrast to the tourism and construction industries, the agricultural sector in Baja California Sur is in decline.  Over the past thirty years, both product volume and the surface area harvested have notably dwindled, although organic agriculture has increased. The main causes of this decline include misguided federal economic policies that prioritize certain crops over others, the scarcity and inefficient use of water, low levels of irrigation technology, and an inadequate rural infrastructure.  Additionally, low market prices for basic food items, as well as an over-abundance of commercial middlemen,[1] has exacerbated the problem.  Over-exploitation of fresh water aquifers and agrochemical contamination are two results from the continued use of an outdated agricultural model.[2]

Currently, corn is the most widely planted crop in the state in terms of area.  However, it is likely that other more technologically-intensive crops will soon displace corn in the region.  The crop selection has changed as a consequence of limited water supplies, from highly-subsidized export products such as cotton ─ which in the seventies consumed a great amount of water in the Santo Domingo Valley ─ to other more profitable crops aimed at other markets (chickpeas, orchards and vegetables).  The products consumed domestically (wheat and safflower among others) were changed to sorghum and alfalfa, which prevail to date.  Although exotic crops demand excessive water, their commercial value are high in the international market, and therefore, they continue to be grown, despite limitations in water resources.

As of the year 2000, approximately 12% of the state’s permanent population works in the agriculture sector,[3] with an additional 20,000-25,000 migrant workers adding to that total during the high season.