Agricultural green work and its contribution to the income of rural households in Yucatan, Mexico

Abstract

The growth of non-agricultural economic activities and the increasing integration into urban geographical areas have led to a situation where "rural" can no longer be used as a synonym for "agricultural". Therefore, in order to understand the current situation of the rural economy and to outline strategies for achieving local development, it is necessary to analyze labor markets and the income composition of rural households. For this reason, this study aims to quantify in monetary terms the contribution of agricultural green work (TVA, for its Spanish acronym) to household income and to identify the factors that contribute to this type of activity. Using a quantitative and cross-sectional approach, a probabilistic dichotomous regression analysis was carried out to determine the participation of southern Yucatan rural households in agricultural green work. The results show that the contribution of the TVA to household income is moderate and that variables such as age, education and the number of adults in the household positively affect it. Overcrowding in the home and having equipment such as a gas stove and radio have a negative impact on household participation in the TVA, reflecting the ambivalence surrounding rural development.