A market assessment of greenhouse products and associated rural development in semi-arid regions of Mexico

Greenhouse products represent a feasible alternative for small producers compared to open-field production. Using a combination of enterprise budgeting, capital investment analysis and optimization, we found that under most of the conditions investigated the six different crops investigated are profitable. Greenhouse production has the added benefits of conserving scarce land and water resources, potentially reducing production and market risk, and offering consumers healthful products of good quality, that can contribute to the development of the local economy. One problem is that a larger up-front investment is often essential.;This study focused on three main areas: (1) A production and market assessment. (2) An analysis of governmental policies in Mexico and the USA, especially with respect to exports, and (3) An evaluation of credit programs for small producers