WOMEN, AGRICULTURAL AND POVERTY: A STUDY IN TWO COMMUNITIES IN THE MONTAÑA REGION OF GUERRERO, MÉXICO

Abstract

Aim: To analize the socio-economic conditions and the activities carried out by the women of the communities of Santa Cruz, municipality of Huamuxtitlán, and of Colombia de Guadalupe, municipality of Malinaltepec, that belong to the region of La Montaña in the state of Guerrero.
Design/methodology/approach: The information was obtained by a statistical sampling, with a total sample size of 98 women; 46 were interviewed in Colombia de Guadalupe (46.9%) and 52 in Santa Cruz (53.1%).
Results: 50% of the women in the study, primarily adults, recognized that they speak Mixteco, Nahuatl or Tlapaneco. These women and their families practice traditional agriculture in small areas with very low yields in their crops. Women do a great deal of domestic and farming activities. Migration is present in the communities and the remittances are essential. An increase in the rate of migration of women was detected during the last years.
Limitations of the study/implications: Differences were observed between the two municipalities, thus it will be necessary to continue the studies in the other municipalities of the Montaña de Guerrero, one of the poorest in the country.
Findings/conclusions: Migration plays an important role in the economy of families and a great majority of women consider themselves to live in conditions of poverty. Even thou the population in both communities live in the poverty, the women in Santa Cruz have better life conditions compare with the ones in Colombia de Guadalupe.