Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
figure 3.1.MahoganylogsonStandardFruittraininLaCeiba.
Author'sprivatecollection.
extensive, uncultivated vegas of the Aguán River, and put an end to the
constant emigration of our sons to the Costa Norte.''
80
The principal livelihood in Sonaguera in the early twentieth century
was small-scale ranching. In 1918, 66 residents reported owning between
1 and 40 head of cattle.
81
In 1920, local ocials approved a timber conces-
sion for Luís Masnada, a businessman from La Ceiba with ties to Standard
Fruit.The five-yearcontract agreed to sell Masnada ''5,000 mahoganyand
cedartrees''averaging8feetindiameter.
82
Revenue from the timber sale
was to finance various public works projects, including a new town hall
and schools. The deal strongly suggested that at least part of the munici-
pality contained extensive forests and that existing ranching and agricul-
ture operations did not generate much revenue. Oneyear later, the Mayor
of Sonaguera convened a special meeting to discuss the ''nearexhaustion''
of forests in the ejidos due to the actions of ''certain residents'' who were
felling trees in order to plant pasture. Local o
cials, expressing concern
that such practices would threaten the abilityof ''poor residents'' to estab-
lish small farms, agreed to divide the ejido into two zones, one for live-
stock (zona ganadera) and the other for agriculture (zona mixta).
83
This
initial effort to limit the expansion of ranching was a portent of the future,
but the shift toward an agricultural base was only beginning; as late as
1923, cattle, horses, and other animals continued to range freely through-
