

THE TAJIN TOTONAC PART 1 KELLY AND PALERM 



127 



The size of the local field varies from 0.125 to 

 between 3 and 4 hectares. Often an individual 

 has several small plots, and of the 27 families, 6 

 have their vanilla holdings scattered. One plan- 

 ter has as many as seven different fields — some on 

 his own land, some on rented property. The nor- 

 mal life of a vanilla field is about 10 years, but 

 toward the end of that time the yield diminishes ; 

 however, we know of fields 18 years of age which 

 still are bearing. 



Vanilla is of major importance economically 

 because it is converted directly into cash. With 

 the latter, a Totonac is able to pay for doctors and 

 medicines and is able to buy clothing, kerosene, 

 lard, meat, bread, coffee, salt, and many other use- 

 ful items. Twenty-five years ago, when the va- 

 nilla business was really profitable, one man and 

 his four sons planted 5 destajos to vanilla; with 

 the first (?) harvest they cleared $20,000 pesos — 

 each bought land and built a house. 



Those days are long since past, but even now, 

 in a good year, the income from vanilla is not 

 inconsiderable. Of our 27 families, 2 have fields 

 which are not yet producing, and another gave 

 an incomprehensible statement concerning his 

 sales. Accordingly, we have information con- 

 cerning vanilla proceeds from 24 families The 

 income from the 1946 crop ranges from $20.00 to 

 $1,310 pesos per family, with an average of $361.83. 

 This does not include stolen vanilla, which prob- 

 ably averages at least one-third of the total crop. 

 Nor does it include any correction for the few 

 individuals who manifestly gave false statements — 

 as with maize, fearing that their taxes might be 

 raised. 



Vanilla production in Taj in probably could be 

 placed on a more secure footing. It would be un- 

 wise to base an entire economy on it, because of 

 the irregular rainfall and the danger of complete 

 crop failure from time to time. In 1944 and 1945, 

 for example, almost no vanilla was harvested, 

 owing to drought; the 1946 crop was good, "but 

 barely sufficient to pay what had been borrowed." 

 However, in its present role, as a cash crop to 

 supplement maize, vanilla growing fits admirably 

 into the existing economy, and increased proceeds 

 from it would mean an improved standard of 

 living. 



As we see it, increased proceeds depend largely 

 on two factors: (1) control of theft; and (2) 



better marketing facilities. As matters now 

 stand, the Totonac planter takes all the responsi- 

 bility and all the risks of production, while the 

 pilferers and the Papantla merchants reap most of 

 the profits. 



For the reduction of theft, we have no solution 

 to offer. Obviously, legislation in itself is not 

 effective. However, on the score of marketing, 

 the situation is more hopeful. At present, the 

 price of vanilla is set by the half dozen buyers in 

 Papantla, who enjoy a monopoly. Four pesos 

 the kilogram do not warrant the trouble of pol- 

 linating and harvesting. The natural solution of 

 the marketing problem would be a Taj in coopera- 

 tive which would be in a position to bargain col- 

 lectively and which, moreover, would not be 

 obliged to limit its sales to Papantla. 63 



The establishment of a cooperative in Taj in 

 will not be easy. On the score of vanilla, no man 

 trusts his neighbor, and concerted action will be 

 difficult. Yet, if the Totonac could be persuaded 

 of the wisdom of collective bargaining and if they 

 could bring themselves to designate as their agents 

 a few persons of integrity — and there are many 

 in the community — the project should be extraor- 

 dinarily beneficial. The vanilla business is profit- 

 able — for the buyer, if not for the planter. 54 



SUGARCANE 



Cane is an introduced crop which the Indians 

 seem to have adopted early and with great en- 

 thusiasm ; 55 the Totonac believe that they have 

 "always had cane." 



Cane is in part a cash crop, although at least 

 as much is raised in Taj in for home consumption 

 as for sale, and most families have a few plants. 

 Although fewer sell cane than vanilla, those who 

 plant in quantity realize about as much from 

 brown sugar as they do from vanilla, and, for 

 the 10 households for which we have data, sales 

 range from $20.00 to about $1,100.00 pesos an- 

 nually, per family. 



M The Camara Nacional de Comercio, in Mexico City, is able to 

 provide a list of many manufacturers who buy vanilla. 



54 A local buyer on a small scale proposed that we collaborate 

 with him. He asked for $10,000 pesos capital, assuring us that 

 at the end of a single season he would be able to return the initial 

 investment, plus a profit of 100 percent. 



"Motolinfa (p. 164) notes that the Indians of tierra calicnte 

 "son tan amigos de cafias de azficar para las comer en cafla, que 

 ban plantado nuiehas y se dan muy bien . . . ." 



