Agriculture pour l’exportation et peuplement rural dans la région frontalière Mexique/États-Unis : San Quintin en Basse Californie

Abstract

This article examines the development of the San Quintin Valley in Baja California as an example of the transformation of the Mexican northern border rural areas as a result of foreign direct investment (FDI) in export-oriented agriculture. FDI in horticulture encouraged the modernization of production, especially as regards the forms and types of production and work, which, however, entail important environmental and labor problems. This evolution of agriculture led to a process of transformation of the demographic dynamics and residential system. The increase in production and the year-round demand of field workers transformed temporary labor migrations into settlement migrations, generating very strong demographic growth. The gradual abandonment of labor camps for squatter settlements has significantly reduced the rigid residential segregation between indigenous migrant workers from Southern Mexico and the rest of the population. In the numerous neighborhoods where agriculture is no longer the only economic activities, the population has developed survival strategies adapted to the border situation.

Keywords

• border
• segregation
• agribusiness
• horticulture
• rurality
• housing