Techno-agricultural trajectory of orange cultivation in the northern area of Veracruz

Abstract

The technological evolution in orange production and marketing in the northern area of the state of Veracruz, Mexico was studied using the ethnographic methodology and the analytical approach of technological and techno-economic trajectory. Results showed that the use of technology in the productive phase generates substantial changes, since currently agrochemicals, harrows, tractors and, to a lesser extent, tolerant patterns to the citrus tristeza virus (CTV) are used; regarding disruptive changes, the use of machinery for fumigation was found. In the commercial section, there were incremental innovations as the tool used in citrus cutting was improved, whereas the radical changes consisted of the introduction of a weigh scale for bulk purchase and the use of machinery for washing, brushing and waxing the fruit. These innovations were the result of changes in the political (agrarian distribution), social (migration) and economic context (agricultural crisis and emergence of large brokers) that occurred in the study region and have defined the techno-agricultural trajectory of the crop in four stages: beginning of the crop, growth stage, stagnation and the threat of Huanglongbing (HLB).