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Unfortunately, the training of many agricultural advisers has been designed to
meet the needs of large landholders and decision makers who can afford meat and
cheese. As a result, village health and development programs are often advised
to grow high-yield hybrids instead of native grains. In areas where hybrid crops
are being introduced, it is important that program leaders study these questions
carefully. They can then help health workers gain enough understanding of the
issues to be able to give people sound advice.
A COMPARISON BETWEEN NATIVE AND HYBRID MAIZE
MORE APPROPRIATE
LESS APPROPRIATE
Native yellow or criollo maize has great
variation, so it resists epidemic disease. It also
matures faster, resists drought more easily, and
is more nutritious than white hybrid maize.
Although it often produces less grain, it is
more sure to yield a harvest under difficult and
variable conditions. For small farmers who
lack irrigation and eat mostly maize, growing
traditional yellow or criollo maize is a safeguard
to health . . . now and in the future.
White hybrid maize has very little variation.
All plants and ears are similar. So a crop of this
maize can be destroyed completely by sudden
epidemic disease. It matures slowly, and requires
irrigation, fertilizers, and pesticides for good
harvests. It also has less protein and vitamins than
the native yellow maize. Because of its higher
yield, the hybrid is attractive to large landholders.
Its white flour appeals to commercial mills and
sellers. But in the long run, if it replaces native
maize completely, its destruction from sudden
disease may cause widespread starvation.
Problems similar to those with hybrid maize in Latin America have occurred in
many parts of the world. In Zambia, a mold called fusarium destroyed hybrid
maize on big farms, while small farms with traditional maize were not affected.
In the Philippines, epidemics have destroyed huge crops of hybrid rice. I n
Indonesia, 200,000 hectares of hybrid rice were lost in 1974 and 1975 because of
a new virus disease spread by insects. Now the Indonesian government is trying
to improve the old local varieties of rice, instead of using hybrids from outside the
area.
Note: We are not suggesting that all hybrid grains are bad and should not be used. As long
as care is taken to maintain a reserve of native grain, certain hybrids can be of considerable
benefit. In a just political climate, they may even help to improve the well-being of the poor.
Also, some hybrids-such as Opaque 2 maize—are more nutritious than the native grains,
although there have been major problems with rot, fungus, etc. The point we are trying to
make is this:
Health workers should not simply accept hybrids—or anything
else introduced by outsiders—without first checking to see if
they will really meet the needs of the local people.