Social and Economic Analysis of the Production of Maradol Papaya (Carica papaya L.): Case study in the coast of Oaxaca, Mexico

Resumen

Objective: To analyze the social, production, and profitability indicators of a conventional agribusiness producing Maradol papaya in the coastal region of Oaxaca.

Methodology: This research was conducted at the agribusiness “Productores de la Costa Posa Verde, S.P.R. de R.L” from June 2020 to August 2021. Semi-structured interviews with the producer and his family were conducted. The economic analysis was done using the activity-based budgeting method.

Results: The studied company is a family agribusiness run by the head of the family, a 47-year-old man with a high school education and approximately 35 years of experience in the cultivation of papaya. During the period of study, the production cost was $365,190.01 ha^-1. From the total variable costs, the largest expenditures per cultivated ha went to harvesting (38.2%), irrigation (17.5%), and phytosanitary control (14.3%). The cost-benefit relationship (CBR) obtained by the agribusiness was 1.31. A net profit of $117,633.6 ha^-1 was observed, together with a profitability of 24.4%, and an equilibrium point of 31,268.86 kg.

Conclusions: This papaya farming agribusiness is profitable. Moreover, papaya farming is an important source of work, which contributes to improving the quality of life among the region’s inhabitants.