Fertilizer Program Benefits Over 700,000 Small-Scale Producers

The Fertilizers for Welfare Program, which operates under the direction of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER), has assisted 717,570 small-scale producers in 2022 so far.

Fertilizers for Well-Being is one of the welfare programs promoted by Mexico’s government. The program delivers up to 600kg of free fertilizer to small-scale producers intending to contribute to food production. The program began in 2019 in the state of Guerrero, supporting 278,547 corn, bean and rice farmers. Following instructions of President López Obrador, the program was extended to Morelos, Puebla and Tlaxcala for farmers of corn, rice, vegetables and oats. By the end of 2020, 369,121 small-scale producers in these four entities benefited from the program. Later, the states of Chiapas, Oaxaca, Durango, Nayarit and Zacatecas were also included. 

SADER indicated that this year it will deliver 274,606 tons of urea and diammonium phosphate (DAP) to small-scale producers of basic grains, to the benefit of more than 900,000ha of agricultural land in the nine states belonging to the program. 

Moreover, SADER said that the Fertilizer Program aims to achieve food security in Mexico by contributing to increased production of priority crops for small-scale farmers. The program considers corn, beans, and rice as priority crops, in addition to crops with a high social or economic value for a specific region.

The Ministry highlighted that 90 percent of the farmers supported in 2022 are in the three most marginalized states in Mexico. Additionally, 41 percent of the beneficiaries are women. Respectively, the program has benefited 313,588 producers in Guerrero, 190,768 in Chiapas, and 147,232 in Oaxaca. 

The government invited farmers to join training courses to enhance the results of the fertilizer, focused on correct usage, management techniques and incorporation of organic matter, among other factors. According to SADER, more than 60 online training seminars have been held by different institutions.

Finally, SADER thanked the Ministry of Welfare, the National Guard, PEMEX and Mexican Food Security (Segalmex) for their support toward the different stages of the fertilizer program.