Costo Beneficio Asociado Con La Cosecha De Semilla De Chamizo Y Guayacán En La Región Central De Sonora, México

Poor management and climate changes have caused large areas of rangeland to be currently deteriorated and have low potential for forage production, which requires replanting. However, the availability of seed for forage species is limited and most of it is imported, so it is very expensive. The seed costs of two forage herbaceous and tree species chamizo (Atriplex canescens) and guayacán (Guaiacum coulteri), harvested during 2021 and 2022 on two livestock farms in central Sonora, Mexico, were compared with the prices offered by small companies in local seed harvesters, with prices from seed companies in the United States of America. Seed production and quality were evaluated considering germination, purity, and viability (%). Production, handling, and transportation costs were considered, as well as phytosanitary tests and import customs payments. The results show that the total cost per kg of Pure Live Seed (SPV) averaged $188.05 and $331.09 for chamizo and guayacán, respectively, in locally harvested seed was $380.00 and $550.00 per kilogram for chamizo and guayacán in regionally acquired seed and $7,645.0 and $6,783.41 for chamizo and guayacán in the imported seed, respectively. The quality of seed of local origin is like that of regional and imported seed, which is between 1 and 39 to 19 times more expensive compared to local seed. It is concluded that the quantity and quality of tree seed produced in rangelands of the Sonoran Desert in years of normal rainfall is adequate for the rehabilitation of rangelands. The high profit margins with the harvest and sale of local seed can be an important complementary source of income to increase the profits of livestock producers with limited economic resources. The activity, in addition to increasing producers' profits, allows for the promotion of temporary employment in rural regions.