Communities in Carrillo Puerto Struggle to Sustain Traditional Mayan Diet

The production of maize in the Mayan communities of Carrillo Puerto has decreased, no longer guaranteeing food for the entire year, according to anthropologist Mario Baltazar Collí. Families now need to purchase maize and other foods due to reduced milpa harvests.

This change represents a form of food colonization, with an increase in the consumption of industrial products that displace traditional practices and foods of the Mayan communities. In response to this situation, local initiatives aim to recover the milpa and traditional culinary practices.

Anthropologist Mario Baltazar Collí notes that milpa yield has decreased over time, dropping from approximately 50 kilograms per mecate in the 1980s to around 19 kilograms today. This affects the families and communities that depend on maize production.

Basilio Velázquez Chi, the promoter of the Kolnáal, Mayan Cuisine initiative, aims to recover the knowledge and traditional culinary practices of the communities through milpa products and other traditional foods. The proposal also promotes the use of wood-fired stoves and traditional food preparation techniques.

The decline in harvests and the presence of industrial products represent two challenges for the Mayan communities, both in their own food production and in preserving their customs.