The relationship between poverty and the agricultural sector in Mexico

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether planted and harvested area affects poverty, moderate poverty, extreme poverty, and lack of access to quality and nutritious food in Mexico.

Methodology: Eight data panels were conducted (four with fixed effects and four with variable effects) comparing planted and harvested area with poverty, moderate poverty, extreme poverty, and lack of access to quality and nutritious food in Mexico. The natural logarithms of the variables were used.

Results: The natural logarithms of the planted area and the natural logarithms of the harvested area did not have a statistically significant impact on the natural logarithms of poverty, moderate poverty, extreme poverty, and the lack of access to nutritious and quality food.

Limitations on study/implications: The government should work on transmission mechanisms so that agricultural sector production has an impact on poverty levels in Mexico. One limitation is that some variables, such as agricultural production in tons (units of weight), were not taken into account.

Conclusions: Mexico's agricultural production (measured by planted and harvested areas) does not affect poverty rates in Mexico.