Impact of income strategies on food security in rural Mayan communities in northern Campeche

This paper examines the effect of income strategies on sufficiency of caloric intake in Mayan domestic groups (DG) of Campeche, Mexico. The analysis was based on the sustainable livelihoods approach. Information was obtained through a survey of households (N = 237) in four communities. The results reveal that all of the DG have diversified income strategies with clearly defined orientations. The caloric sufficiency index (CSI) is different (p < 0.05) among conglomerates (C) of DG and increases with the increase of the proportion of agricultural income in relation to total income. The wage labor strategy (37.6%) corresponding to C1 of DG (CSI-C = 0.69) and the agriculture-wage labor strategy (42.6%; CSI-C2 = 0.87) do not cover energy requirements of the DG. Only the agricultural strategy satisfies caloric intake needs (CSI-C3 = 1.09; CSI-C4 = 1.30) of the DG (19.8%). These results are associated with the heterogeneity of resources of the DG's, particularly, with the quality and extent of land, presence of producer organizations, and current rural policies. Implementation of differentiated local policies, interinstitutional coordination, and community participation could contribute to improving effectiveness of policies aimed at eradicating food insecurity.