Experience reintroduction of native maize varieties in Qom community of northeastern Argentina

Abstract

Group of Study and Work with communities qom of the Chaco region of UBA, works with the
community qom Potae Napocna Navogoh of Formosa, Argentina, in its agricultural development,
with the main objective of contributing to autonomy and sovereignty food of the community,
having as premises the respect for cultural values, the qom people cosmovision and the
environment. The present work summarizes five years of joint experiencia in maize production
of family farms, in which the applied methodology, the continuous work and the strengthening
of the bonds of trust and respect with the community, allowed to advance from a first experience
with maize commercial hybrids until the reintroduction of native open-pollinated varieties
with an associated cultural value, contributing to the increase of agricultural biodiversity, the
revaluation of the local culture and the improvement in food, economic income and autonomy
of the community.