Publication: Revalorando viejas prácticas mayas de manejo de plagas
del maíz almacenado para la agricultura del futuro
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Date
2010
Authors
Morales, Helda ; Ramírez, Pedro ; Liere, Heidi ; Rodas, Soledad ; López, Juan Carlos
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Publisher
Murcia: Servicio de Publicaciones de la Universidad de Murcia
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DOI
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info:eu-repo/semantics/article
Description
Abstract
Se presentan los resultados de una serie de estudios para documentar y evaluar el conocimiento
tradicional de manejo de plagas en granos de maíz almacenado entre agricultores
mayas. Se realizaron 157 entrevistas en cinco comunidades de Los Altos de Chiapas y tres comunidades
del altiplano guatemalteco. Sithophilus zeamais y Sitotroga cerealella fueron los insectos
más comúnmente reportados. El 50% de los agricultores usa insecticidas, muchas veces
en una forma inapropiada. Sin embargo aun utilizan varias prácticas tradicionales de manejo,
que son en su mayoría de carácter preventivo (variedades criollas, fechas estrictas de cosecha,
secado del maíz antes de guardarlo, aplicación de cal, e incorporación de plantas repelentes y
utilización de graneros fríos y secos). Se establecieron experimentos para probar la efectividad
de estas prácticas. El uso de variedades criollas amarillas, la incorporación de hojas de Piper
auritum, y un lugar seco y frío para el almacenamiento parecen ser prácticas efectivas para
reducir el ataque de plaga. A través de talleres se divulgaron los resultados de la investigación,
con el fin de invitar a los jóvenes agricultores de la región a probar las prácticas que inventaron
sus ancestros. Una encuesta realizada un año después de los talleres sugiere que los talleres
provocaron cambios positivos entre los jóvenes y su actitud hacia las prácticas tradicionales.
Los principios del conocimiento tradicional maya para la protección del maíz almacenado tienen
potencial para la agricultura orgánica y la seguridad alimentaria en uno de los centros de
domesticación del maíz, dos prioridades de la agricultura de hoy y el mañana.
Abstract: We present results of a series of studies documenting and evaluating traditional knowledge of pest in stored grains among Mayan farmers. We performed 257 interviews in five communities in the Chiapas highlands and in three communities in the Guatemalan highlands. Sithophilus zeamais and Sitotroga cerealella were the most commonly reported insects. Fifty % of farmers use the pesticide aluminum phosphide or malathion, often in inappropriate ways. However they still employ several traditional management practices, the majority of which are preventative (local varieties, strict harvest dates, drying maize before storage, lime application, incorporation of repellent plants and cool, dry granaries). We conducted experiments to test the efficacy of these practices. The use of traditional yellow corn variety, the incorporation of Piper auritum leaves and lime in the storage, and dry, cool storage room seem to reduce pest attacks. We communicated our findings through workshops inviting young farmers to try the techniques invented by their ancestors. A survey performed a year after the workshops suggested that the workshops induced positive changes in young farmers’ attitudes towards traditional practices. The principles of Maya traditional knowledge of stored grain protection have potential for application to organic agriculture and for food security in one of the domestication centers of maize, two priorities for today’s and tomorrow’s agriculture.
Abstract: We present results of a series of studies documenting and evaluating traditional knowledge of pest in stored grains among Mayan farmers. We performed 257 interviews in five communities in the Chiapas highlands and in three communities in the Guatemalan highlands. Sithophilus zeamais and Sitotroga cerealella were the most commonly reported insects. Fifty % of farmers use the pesticide aluminum phosphide or malathion, often in inappropriate ways. However they still employ several traditional management practices, the majority of which are preventative (local varieties, strict harvest dates, drying maize before storage, lime application, incorporation of repellent plants and cool, dry granaries). We conducted experiments to test the efficacy of these practices. The use of traditional yellow corn variety, the incorporation of Piper auritum leaves and lime in the storage, and dry, cool storage room seem to reduce pest attacks. We communicated our findings through workshops inviting young farmers to try the techniques invented by their ancestors. A survey performed a year after the workshops suggested that the workshops induced positive changes in young farmers’ attitudes towards traditional practices. The principles of Maya traditional knowledge of stored grain protection have potential for application to organic agriculture and for food security in one of the domestication centers of maize, two priorities for today’s and tomorrow’s agriculture.
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