Mestizos and Mennonites Facing the Water Crisis in Northern Mexico : Differentiated Trajectories of the Social Construction of Water Scarcity and Unequal Agricultural Adaptation Strategies (Laguna de Bustillos, Cuauhtémoc, Chihuahua, Mexico)
Abstract
In the state of Chihuahua, the recurring droughts of recent years have intensified tensions surrounding access to water, which is already fragile in this semi-arid region of northern Mexico, and have exacerbated inequalities among different agricultural communities. The historical dimension of the establishment and development of these communities also plays a key role in the territorial disparities observed. This research, conducted in 2024, analyzes water-related vulnerabilities and adaptation strategies among farmers and ranchers in the endorheic watershed of Laguna de Bustillos, the region’s main agricultural hub. Drawing on a geohistorical approach, satellite-based spatial analyses, and semi-structured interviews, the study highlights socio-structural inequalities in access to water according to different types of agricultural property (Ejidos, agrarian colonies, Mennonite fields, and private properties). The results show that water scarcity, aggravated by groundwater overexploitation and climate change, reinforces spatial, social, and economic imbalances among producers. The Mennonites established west of the lagoon benefit from privileged access to water resources and technologically advanced irrigation systems, while ejidatarios, with fewer financial resources, are gradually withdrawing from agricultural production. However, the study also reveals nuances within this model and underscores the need for polycentric governance and a participatory approach to local-scale water management.
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BibTeX
@article{angeliaumedescamps2026mestizos,
title = {{Mestizos and Mennonites Facing the Water Crisis in Northern Mexico : Differentiated Trajectories of the Social Construction of Water Scarcity and Unequal Agricultural Adaptation Strategies (Laguna de Bustillos, Cuauhtémoc, Chihuahua, Mexico)}},
author = {Alexandra Angéliaume-Descamps and Perline Lafoux-Daudé and Luis Carlos Bravo Peña and Mehdi Saqalli and Hugo Luis Rojas Villalobos and Víctor Manuel Reyes Gómez},
journal = {Espace Populations Sociétés},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.4000/16z9k},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05835272v1},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Mestizos and Mennonites Facing the Water Crisis in Northern Mexico : Differentiated Trajectories of the Social Construction of Water Scarcity and Unequal Agricultural Adaptation Strategies (Laguna de Bustillos, Cuauhtémoc, Chihuahua, Mexico)
AU - Alexandra Angéliaume-Descamps
AU - Perline Lafoux-Daudé
AU - Luis Carlos Bravo Peña
AU - Mehdi Saqalli
AU - Hugo Luis Rojas Villalobos
AU - Víctor Manuel Reyes Gómez
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/22
JO - Espace Populations Sociétés
DO - 10.4000/16z9k
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05835272v1
AB - In the state of Chihuahua, the recurring droughts of recent years have intensified tensions surrounding access to water, which is already fragile in this semi-arid region of northern Mexico, and have exacerbated inequalities among different agricultural communities. The historical dimension of the establishment and development of these communities also plays a key role in the territorial disparities observed. This research, conducted in 2024, analyzes water-related vulnerabilities and adaptation strategies among farmers and ranchers in the endorheic watershed of Laguna de Bustillos, the region’s main agricultural hub. Drawing on a geohistorical approach, satellite-based spatial analyses, and semi-structured interviews, the study highlights socio-structural inequalities in access to water according to different types of agricultural property (Ejidos, agrarian colonies, Mennonite fields, and private properties). The results show that water scarcity, aggravated by groundwater overexploitation and climate change, reinforces spatial, social, and economic imbalances among producers. The Mennonites established west of the lagoon benefit from privileged access to water resources and technologically advanced irrigation systems, while ejidatarios, with fewer financial resources, are gradually withdrawing from agricultural production. However, the study also reveals nuances within this model and underscores the need for polycentric governance and a participatory approach to local-scale water management.
SN - 0755-7809
SN - 2104-3752
ER -