Maya Achi' Women Keep 50 Seed Varieties in a Rabinal Seed House

Qachuu Aloom, Maya Achi' for 'Mother Earth', began in 2003 in the communities of Baja Verapaz, Guatemala, founded by Don Cristobal Osorio with 20 families recovering native seeds. Today it brings together 617 families in San Miguel Chicaj, Rabinal and Cubulco, about 85% of them women, and manages more than 50 seed varieties. The association combines seed conservation with agroecology, solidarity economy and integral health programmes, and runs a shop in Rabinal selling members' products. It also hosts events such as its Festival del Maiz, celebrating native maize.