Total cost assessment of greenhouse tomato production in Zacatecas, Mexico

Abstract

Agriculture in the state of Zacatecas, Mexico, consumes 77% of the available groundwater. In this region, the main source of water is 34 aquifers, of which 44% are over exploited. Over extraction of the aquifers damages the environment, increases pumping costs and decreases water quality. Greenhouse tomato production systems have increased considerably in recent years. Besides the environmental problems that agriculture generates, there is also the problem of emissions and solid waste. The objective of this paper is to assess the environmental impact on profitability of protected agriculture systems in the state of Zacatecas. The methodology used was total cost assessment. This study assesses the total cost of four production units in their present situation, as well as in two scenarios: one denominated sustainable and the other unsustainable. Profitability indicators in the sustainable and unsustainable scenarios show that adopting conservation production practices, besides improving the image of the organization and permitting better access to markets, will maintain profitability and contribute to the conservation of natural resources.