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Milpa practices

Natural resource constraints have necessitated the development of suitable agricultural practices that depend on moisture from the rainy season.  Traditional agriculture in the region is based on maize mixed with squash (Cucurbita spp.) and beans, such as ‘ib’ (Phaseolus lunatus) and ‘xpelón’ (Vigna unguiculate). Farming involves using slash and burn ‘milpa’ techniques, where a small area of 0.5 to 2.5 ha is cleared by hand and burnt, obtains nutrients released from resident organic matter for growth of the planted crops(13).  Traditionally, species are planted together as a mixture of seeds at the beginning of the rainy season. The polyculture normally consists of maize, beans and squash.

A burnt Milpa, ready for the rains that will signal planting. Photo: D. Parsons.

Maize grown in polyculture with beans. Photo: D. Parsons.

Maize grown in polyculture with squash. Photo: D. Parsons.

A maize Milpa monoculture. Photo: D. Parsons.

Weeds and pests were traditionally controlled manually, however pesticide use is becoming more common, particularly herbicides in the second year of cultivation. Weeds are controlled somewhat by the burning process, and thus during the first year of cultivation weeds are only a minor problem. Increasing weed densities in land cultivated for subsequent years is a major reason for plot abandonment(2). The photograph below shows the difference in weed densities during the first year of planting to the second year of planting. Clearly the amount of labor (or herbicide) needed to manage the weeds is higher in the second year.

Difference in weed densities between first year (left) and second year (right) plots. Photo: D. Parsons.

Generally a two to three year cultivation period is followed by a ten to twenty year period of forest fallow (11). Longer periods of fallow (>30 years) are traditional, however the current situation usually does not permit this(13). Fertilizers are not normally used, and the fallow period is the main mechanism for ensuring adequate nutrients for crop growth. It is common for a farmer to cultivate two or more milpas, increasing the likelihood crop success in difficult conditions, such as drought, pest damage or hurricanes.

Next: The People who practice Milpa