Impacto Economico Asociado Con La Cosecha De Semilla De Zamota Y Mezquite En La Region Central De Sonora, México

Areas of rangelands are deteriorated, show low production and need range seeding for restoration. However, seed availability of forage species is limited as a result seed is imported and expensive. We compare seed cost of two forage species harvested during 2012 and 2013 in central Sonora, Mexico with seed prices of regional seed dealers and with several seed companies in USA. Seed production and quality was evaluated based on germination, purity and viability (%). Production costs, handling and transportation as well as sanitary control tests and importation expenses were evaluated. Results show that the total cost per kilogram of seed (PLS) basis averaged $3,845.81 and $265.84 for zámota and mesquite on local harvested seed; $5,000.00 and $450.00 for zámota and mesquite on regionally obtained seed and $16,579.10 and $5,954.80 for zámota and mesquite imported seed. Quality of seed harvested locally is similar to seed bought regionally and to imported seed, which results 1 to 56 times more expensive as compared to local seed. We conclude that seed quantity and quality of trees produced on rangelands during good rainfall years is adequate for range rehabilitation. High profits by harvesting and selling local seed may result in an important complementary income source to increase utilities of low income people. Besides increasing rancher’s income, this allows to increase temporal employment in the rural areas.