Exploring mechanisms of food insecurity in indigenous agricultural communities in Guatemala: a mixed methods study

The country of Guatemala has one of the highest rates of chronic child malnutrition in the world, which primarily affects the rural, indigenous Maya population. In this study we explore the apparent paradox of endemic food insecurity and child malnutrition coexisting in Maya communities alongside a predominance of agricultural land holdings and food production.

A mixed methods design explored food availability and access in a rural indigenous agricultural community, as compared to a nearby urban indigenous community. Structured surveys in both open-air markets and corner stores examined price, quality, and availability of foods. Structured household surveys examined land ownership, crop production, perceptions of food security, and the diversity of children’s diets. Key informant interviews with local farmers clarified findings related to land holdings and farming patterns.

Children’s diets demonstrated a lack of diversity, and were especially deficient in dairy, flesh foods, eggs, and vitamin A-rich foods. Food insecurity was highly prevalent, with limited availability of, and access to, nutritionally diverse foods. In particular, the expansion of nontraditional agricultural exports (NTAEs) reduced food availability by displacing subsistence crops. Poor returns on investment for NTAEs limited the available cash for food purchasing, further exacerbating poor diets. Food availability was further reduced by infrequent access to open-air markets in the rural setting as compared to the urban setting, with high risk of food spoilage. As a result much food purchasing was of low-cost, low-quality processed food which, unlike higher-quality fresh foods, were equally affordable and available in both the rural and the urban environment.

The proliferation of NTAEs and commoditized foods reduce dietary diversity and displace the production and consumption of fresh, nutritious foods, even in rural communities devoted primarily to food production. Rural agricultural communities in Guatemala therefore bear many resemblances to the urban “food deserts” of higher-income countries.