Beginning an Internship in Agroecology in Chiapas

Maize ready to harvest in Los Altos, Chiapas

I recently began an internship with a rural development organization in San Cristobal de Las Casas that works with indigenous and campesino communities promoting agroecology, eco-technologies (like rainwater capture, fuel-efficient stoves, tree nurseries for reforestation, etc.), women's rights, and political formation (such as their network of Native Seed Guardians). They accompany 30 different communities in different municipalities across Chiapas in these projects and processes.

They work with producers to transition away from agro-chemicals, and they promote a solidarity economy (for producers that have a surplus) which prioritizes the social and community well-being before financial profits. They also work in the area of gender relations, both in women's rights and addressing topics of masculinities.

They are critical of government programs such as "sembrando vida" ("growing life") which tend to control what indigenous and campesino producers do with their land. As one technical extension worker said, "These programs make campesinos 'workers of the state' instead of campesinos that produce their own food. What makes a campesino a campesino is that they produce their own food for their family's consumption. However, these projects change the native practices of the community and, incentivize campesinos to buy genetically modified corn rather than consuming local varieties of corn."

Another staff member explained, "These government programs have the idea of restructuring and changing communities rather than supporting their longstanding traditions and practices. The government wants to make Mexico attractive to transnational companies."

The aim of this rural development organization is to foment change from the community base level. They don't see change coming from above (through governments and policies) but from the grassroots level (from the people and communities themselves). I will be visiting different communities around Chiapas with this organization and I'm excited to be part of this important work.