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Women’s Leadership in Sustainable Agriculture: Preserving Traditional Knowledge Through Home Gardens in Santa Maria Jacatepec, Oaxaca

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  • Marco Aurelio Acevedo-Ortiz

    (Consejo Nacional de Humanidades, Ciencias y Tecnologías (CONAHCYT)-Instituto Politécnico Nacional, CIIDIR Unidad Oaxaca, Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán 71230, Oaxaca, Mexico)

  • Gema Lugo-Espinosa

    (Consejo Nacional de Humanidades, Ciencias y Tecnologías (CONAHCYT)-Instituto Politécnico Nacional, CIIDIR Unidad Oaxaca, Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán 71230, Oaxaca, Mexico)

  • Yolanda Donají Ortiz-Hernández

    (Instituto Politécnico Nacional, CIIDIR Unidad Oaxaca, Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán 71230, Oaxaca, Mexico)

  • Rafael Pérez-Pacheco

    (Instituto Politécnico Nacional, CIIDIR Unidad Oaxaca, Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán 71230, Oaxaca, Mexico)

  • Fernando Elí Ortiz-Hernández

    (Instituto Politécnico Nacional, ESIME Culhuacán, Coyoacán, Ciudad de México 04440, Mexico)

  • Carlos Alejandro Granados-Echegoyen

    (Consejo Nacional de Humanidades, Ciencias y Tecnologías (CONAHCYT)-Instituto Politécnico Nacional, CIIDIR Unidad Oaxaca, Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán 71230, Oaxaca, Mexico)

Abstract

Rural communities in Oaxaca face challenges such as food insecurity, economic instability, and the loss of traditional agricultural knowledge. Home gardens, once essential for food production and income generation, have declined due to migration, environmental degradation, and modern agricultural pressures. This study evaluated how community-driven models, supported by crowdfunding, can revitalize home gardens to improve food security, build community resilience, and promote economic empowerment. A mixed-methods approach, including household surveys, interviews, and focus groups, was used to assess the impact of these gardens. The results showed that over 70% of households experienced improved food security and reduced reliance on external food sources. Home garden production also led to a 20% reduction in food expenses, and the sale of surplus crops provided additional income, enhancing household economic stability. Women’s involvement in agricultural decision-making increased, fostering empowerment within both family and community contexts. Traditional practices, such as seed saving and organic pest control, were maintained, contributing to the ecological sustainability of the gardens. Crowdfunding was an effective tool for financing home gardens, boosting community engagement and strengthening social bonds. The findings highlight the potential of integrating traditional knowledge with modern funding strategies to create resilient, sustainable agricultural systems in rural Oaxaca.

Suggested Citation

  • Marco Aurelio Acevedo-Ortiz & Gema Lugo-Espinosa & Yolanda Donají Ortiz-Hernández & Rafael Pérez-Pacheco & Fernando Elí Ortiz-Hernández & Carlos Alejandro Granados-Echegoyen, 2024. "Women’s Leadership in Sustainable Agriculture: Preserving Traditional Knowledge Through Home Gardens in Santa Maria Jacatepec, Oaxaca," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(21), pages 1-20, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:21:p:9513-:d:1511910
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Alberto Alesina & Paola Giuliano & Nathan Nunn, 2013. "On the Origins of Gender Roles: Women and the Plough," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 128(2), pages 469-530.
    2. Gema Lugo-Espinosa & Marco Aurelio Acevedo-Ortiz & Teodulfo Aquino-Bolaños & Yolanda Donají Ortiz-Hernández & Fernando Elí Ortiz-Hernández & Rafael Pérez-Pacheco & Juana Yolanda López-Cruz, 2024. "Cultural Heritage, Migration, and Land Use Transformation in San José Chiltepec, Oaxaca," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-25, October.
    3. Marco Aurelio Acevedo-Ortiz & Gema Lugo-Espinosa & Yolanda Donají Ortiz-Hernández & Rafael Pérez-Pacheco & Fernando Elí Ortiz-Hernández & Sabino Honorio Martínez-Tomás & María Elena Tavera-Cortés, 2024. "Nature-Based Solutions for Conservation and Food Sovereignty in Indigenous Communities of Oaxaca," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-18, September.
    4. Regner, Tobias & Crosetto, Paolo, 2021. "The long-term effects of self pledging in reward crowdfunding," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    5. Óscar F. Gil-García & Nilüfer Akalin & Francesca Bové & Sarah Vener, 2024. "Understanding the Mobilities of Indigenous Migrant Youth across the Americas," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-20, January.
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    1. Patricio Silva-Ávila & Jorge Rojas Hernández & Ricardo O. Barra, 2025. "Knowledge Alliances for Global Change Adaptation: A Relational Approach Based on Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Territorial Management, and Community Practices in the Chilean Context," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-28, April.
    2. Neida Albornoz-Arias & Camila Rojas-Sanguino & Akever-Karina Santafe-Rojas, 2025. "Rural Women’s Leadership Within the Cocoa Production Chain in Tibú, Norte de Santander, Colombia: A Gender Perspective," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-26, February.

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