The role of women |
Food and Agriculture Organization
of the United Nations
International Plant
Genetic Resources Institute
Rome, 2002
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is the lead agency for agriculture, forestry, fisheries and rural development. An intergovernmental agency, FAO has 183 Member Nations plus a member organization, the European Community. Since its inception in 1945, FAO has worked to alleviate poverty and hunger by promoting agricultural development, improved nutrition and the pursuit of food security - the access of all people at all times to the food they need for an active and healthy life.
The International Plant Genetic Resource Institute (IPGRI) is an autonomous international scientific organization, supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). IPGRI's mandate is to advance the conservation and use of genetic diversity for the well-being of present and future generations. IPGRI's headquarters are based in Maccarese, near Rome, Italy, with offices in another 19 countries worldwide. The Institute operates through three programmes: the Plant Genetic Resources Programme, the CGIAR Genetic Resources Support Programme and the International Network for the Improvement of Banana and Plantain (INIBAP).
The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations or the International Plant Genetic Resources Insitute concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.
92-5-104784-7
Collaboration:
Forestry Action Plan, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock
and Food, Guatemala.
Researchers:
Enma Leticia Díaz Lara and César Azurdia
Coordination and guidance:
Zoraida García, Programme Officer, Gender and Development Service Gender and Population Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
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© FAO and IPGRI 2002
Preface: Essential aspects to be considered in this study
III. The origin of maize and its cultivation
3.1 The origin of the word maize
3.2 How maize reached Guatemala according to the Mayas
3.3 Women and maize in the oral tradition
3.4 Maize in the cosmic vision of Central America
3.5 The origin of maize and the role of Huehuetenango in its evolution
3.6 Maize culture and the other agricultural activities
IV. Genetic conservation of the resource: maize
5.1 Geographic location and topography
5.2 The most important life zones
5.4 Characteristics of the situation of women in Huehuetenango
VI. Classes of maize specific to Huehuetenango
VII. Introduction of improved varieties
IX. Survival of the cosmology of Pre-Columbian Central America, and the central place of maize
1. The preservation of traditional practices
2. Hypothesis of the invisibility of women
3. The genetic resources of maize
4. Motives of selection under domestication
5. General considerations regarding genetic evolution under domestication
7. On the role of women in the evolution and conservation of maize
1. Maize as a genetic resource
3. Recognising the participation of women in the farming and conservation of maize
Annex I
The communities of the study
Annex II
Teosinte: the possible origin of maize
PHOTOS
Photo 1
Black maize used for the preparation
of black tortillas, which are eaten on special occasions
Photo 2
Local varieties of maize, grown by
farmers who use traditional methods
Photo 3
Woman participating in the maize
harvest
Photo 4
The shelling of the grain is the
activity in which women have a preponderant role in the selection of the genetic
material to be used in the next sowing of the maize crop
Photo 5
The selling of surplus maize in local
markets in an activity exclusively reserved for women.
Photo 6
Preparation of tortillas, an activity
exclusively carried out by women
Photo 7
The workshops fostered direct
consultation with members of different communities
Photo 8
Teosinte (Zea mays subspecies
huehuetenangensis) from the area of Jacaltenango, Huehuetenango,
Guatemala
Photo 9
Post-harvest processing and
selection of the maize to be used for the next sowing.The different classes of
maize are shown. The maize for human consumption is spread on the ground, while
the maize for sowing is arranged in bunches.
MAPS
Map 1
Location of the Department of
Huehuetenango in the Republic of Guatemala
Map 2
Present map according to the
inhabitants of Aguacatán
Map 3
Present map according to the
inhabitants of Tuznul
Map 4
Future map according to the
inhabitants of Tuznul
Map 5
Present map of the San Juàn river
farms
Map 6
Distribution of the different local
languages in the Department of Huehuetenango