Characterization of Sheep Farming in Agroecosystems of Indigenous Communities in Campeche, Mexico

Objective: To characterize sheep farming in agroecosystems of indigenous producerswho received financing from the National Commission for the Development ofIndigenous Peoples (Comisión Nacional para el Desarrollo de los Pueblos Indígenas,CDI) in Campeche, Mexico.Design/Methodology/Approach: A questionnaire was designed with socioeconomicand technical characteristics and was applied to n=199 producers grouped into 27 sheepfarming units, distributed among seven municipalities of Campeche.Results: Sheep farming in the evaluated communities is characterized by extensivegrazing, a low technology level, lack of infrastructure, and high participation of women ofproductive age that are available to learn and implement innovations and technologies.The production system is traditional and focused on repopulating flocks, which are ameans of savings and auto-consumption, without productive and reproductive records.Producers are willing to implement strategies that contribute to improving their farmingunits.Study Limitations/Implications: Support policies, as well as capacity-building plans,should distinguish between indigenous and traditional sheep farming.Findings/Conclusions: The sheep farming units have inadequate infrastructure for flockmanagement, they demonstrate limited knowledge for their adequate management,there are no control records, and they are classified as a traditional farming system.Key words: Sheep, breeds, indigenous production units.