Rainfed maize production systems: is ethnoecological knowledge enough to cope with climate variability?

Abstract

Mexico is identified as the center of origin of maize. In addition, there is a solid local ethnological knowledge about its cultivation, climate, and cosmogony. This research aims were: 1) to integrate and capitalize on the farmers’ knowledge in the Upper Lerma River Basin and 2) to identify triggers for local sustainability. Through eth-noecological interviews and the Delphi method, a conceptual model of rainfed maize cultivation was built, based on four dimensions: maize, agricultural work, climate-environment, and religion-cosmogony. Climate variability, generational change and industrialization could be a challenge for peasants if their ethnoecological knowledge is not exploited.