Abstract

MAZON GONZALEZ, Ma. de los Ángeles et al. Maize with high protein contents (Zea mays l.) in marginalized rural households in Puebla, Mexico. Estud. soc [online]. 2012, vol.20, n.39, pp.131-154. ISSN 0188-4557.

The deficit on daily intake of protein and calories in Mexican children, probes to be extremely high in rural areas. This deficit is exacerbated by the current economic and health problems, becoming a food problem at national scale. This work examined the level of acceptability of quality protein maize (ACP) with the calculation of an acceptability index, using information from 78 producers in the southern state of Puebla, who participated in a program of the SDR, characterized by low levels of HDI and a high index of malnutrition. A questionnaire of 51 questions was applied to a sample, using simple random sampling, with a degree of confidence of 95%. It was found that a ACP maize seed is distributed with its protein attributes, but with a poor technology transfer; with an index of acceptability of 60%, which shows good acceptance to be planted by farmers. They plant it for one, two or three years, assessing its circumstances to be repeated in subsequent cycles, ignoring its protein properties. Consumption of ACP maize is incorporated as fodder for backyard animals and sporadically in the diet of the family.

Keywords : malnutrition; acceptability index; protein maize.

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