The role of women in the conservation of the genetic resources of maize Guatemala

Guatemala is located in an area which contains one of the highest levels of plant genetic diversity in the world. Its particular geography and types of vegetation are characterised by the fact that the country has 14 life zones. The existing human wealth-botanical wealth interaction makes this country an ideal place to study genetic diversity and the evolution of crops, such as maize, but also other crops like beans, cocoa, cotton, chilli peppers, squashes, achote (Bixa orellana), manioc and sweet potatoes. Although women have been closely linked to the process of the domestication of plants, there is little documentation on the role they have played in the conservation of plant genetic resources. In this work, it is assumed that the aims of social development are to enhance the value of rural areas, farming and the men and women involved in it. This is linked to the premise of not separating social dynamics from the dynamics of nature. Although women take part in various farming activities, their main role in the selection of the types of maize (species and sub-species) present in the different regions illustrates the importance of their work in the conservation of the genetic resources of maize.Read the HTML version of this publication in Spanish: El papel de la mujer en la conservación de los recursos genéticos del maíz Guatemala