Smallholder farmers’ perceptions of and adaptations to water scarcity in an irrigated system in Chiapas, Mexico

Abstract

This paper explores smallholder farmers’ perceptions of and adap-tations to water scarcity in an irrigated system in south-eastern Mexico. Data from 85 farmers in four communities were collected through semi-structured interviews. The results show that farmers’ adaptations are stimulated by their perceptions of the causes and dynamics of water scarcity. Findings also reveal that differences in perceptions of, and adaptations to, water scarcity within commu-nities are due to characteristics such as irrigation techniques, water intake location, productive systems and access to groundwater. This study recommends the implementation of policies based on local conditions to cope with water scarcity