The survival of agriculture on the edge: Perceptions of push and pull factors for the persistence of the ancient chinampas of Xochimilco, Mexico City

A mixture of identities, livelihoods and a heterogeneous landscape characterizes the communities located in the rural-urban frontier. The perception of the inhabitants of these communities regarding environmental and sociocultural change is linked to their livelihoods and land use decisions. We use the case study of the ancient agricultural chinampa system in the Xochimilco wetland of Mexico City to understand the main threats and opportunities for peri-urban agriculture in megacities, where the rapid displacement of agricultural land by formal and informal settlements makes its future uncertain. We used a household survey and semi-structured interviews to understand: 1) the relationship between agriculture and informal urbanization, and 2) the perception of chinampa users, considering those who are engaged in agriculture and those who are not, regarding the factors that favor or limit agriculture. The information from interviews was coded and conceptualized as pull and push factors for peri-urban agriculture. Sociocultural factors were mentioned as the main reasons that push chinampas into agriculture abandonment, such as community erosion due to conflicts and lack of interest from younger generations. However, those that continue to engage in agriculture maintain a historical connection to farming (whether they are from the region or not), and a willingness to adapt to maintain their agricultural livelihood. We find that while some families abandon their agricultural land, new niches become available for migrants from other surrounding rural areas who find opportunities to continue farming in the peri-urban frontier. Our evidence suggests that the loss of peri-urban agriculture is not a linear process towards urbanization, and that the coexistence of housing, agriculture, and livelihood diversification can produce the conditions needed for innovation to encourage peri-urban agriculture. •Identity, agricultural livelihoods, and farming adaptation are perceived as pull factors for peri-urban agriculture.•Lack of cooperation, distrust, low profits, and water issues are perceived as push factors for peri-urban agriculture.•As younger generations opt out of agriculture, new niches form to take advantage of the proximity to the city.•Push factors that undermine agriculture for locals could act as pull factors for migrant farmers to farm in the city.•Livelihood diversification, land-use multifunctionality, and innovation are ways for peri-urban agriculture to p