Conservation Agriculture in Central America, the Caribbean and Mexico

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of the actual level of Conservation Agriculture (CA) adoption in Central America, the Caribbean and Mexico. Estimated values in hectares under CA came from collaborators of El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and Nicaragua. The estimated total area under different forms of CA is about 696,950 ha. Lack of or insufficient access to machinery for planting, fertilising, and spraying pesticides limits the adoption and spread of CA. Besides knowledge, technologies and supplies, adoption of CA needs a favourable policy environment, motivation and participation of farmers and their communities. There is still a long way to go in the region from the old approach of soil conservation in agricultural land based on physical structures to a situation of widespread adoption of CA systems.