Agricultural development and maize diversity in Mexico

Mexico is within the center of origin of Zea mays and has among the highest levels of maize genetic diversity in the world. This diversity is traced to factors at the regional and farm levels. Loss of crop genetic diversity has been related to economic and agricultural development, although opposed views of this exist for the Mexican case. Agricultural development appears to be affecting virtually all types of farms in Mexico. A case study in Chiapas suggests that the adoption of some improved varieties has enhanced genetic diversity in maize, but one improved type competes with landraces in the most favorable land. The adoption of this improved type is associated with greater access to capital and with lower risk.The research for this project was carried out with the support of the UC/MEXUS program of the University of California and CONACYT. We wish to acknowledge the advice and assistance provided by Esteban Betanzos of the Chiapas office of the Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarios, Efraim Hernandez of the Colegio de Postgraduados at Chapingo, Robert Tripp of the Centro Internacional de Mejoramiento de Maiz y Trigo, and to Manuel Parra of the Centro de Investigaciones Ecologicas del Sureste in San Cristobal de las Casas. The authors wish to thank J. Edward Taylor, Andraes Buerkert, Aaron Zazueta, and Daniel Mountjoy for their useful comments on an earlier draft.