ETHNOGRAPHY AND PREVALENCE OF NATIVE MAIZE IN SAN JUAN IXTENCO, TLAXCALA, WITH EMPHASIS IN POD CORN (Zea mays var. tunicata A. St. Hil.)

Abstract

Maize (Zea mays L.) is an essential component of the Mexican diet, with an average per capita consumption of 120 kg per year. In this paper, we analyze the importance of preservation of pod corn (Zea mays var. tunicata A. St. Hil.), or ‘garlic’ maize as it is called by the Otomí village of San Juan Ixtenco, Tlaxcala, Mexico. In this community, pod corn has been preserved for decades by a small number of families. In 2009, broader pod corn preservation efforts began. This study identified the lifestyle of the families that have preserved this type of maize and analyzed the cultural codes that surround its preservation, as well as the role family members play in the agricultural tasks. This ethnographic study was carried out from September 2012 to March 2013 through interviews with farmers and key informants. Results allowed us to determine farmer behavior based on cultural and social features around the cultivation of pod corn. Emphasis should be focused on pod corn as it has survived for thousands of years, retained its main characteristics, with the same production, and coexisted with other maize landraces. Results suggest the need of supporting community efforts and cultural richness that preserve pod corn. Through a Maize Fair and custodians, the residents of San Juan Ixtenco maintain the exchange of this and other maize types with other producers. The Mexican government should reassess the cultural and symbolic importance that this grain has represented for thousands of years and develop public policies for its preservation.