Fishermen Panic over Loss of Fuel Subsidy

This week marked important events for fishermen and aquaculture farmers. The government is repopulating areas with fish species and setting up a scheme to help aquaculture farmers with technical resources. Less uplifting for fishermen is the intention of the government to stop subsidizing gasoline for fishing vessels and fish farms.

USMCA negotiations came to a formal end this week, marking the beginning of a new era of trade and collaboration between Mexico, the US and Canada.

Ricardo Weder, CEO of Jüsto, believes e-commerce is the path to a fairer deal for growers in the field. He explains his vision for the company in this exclusive interview with Mexico Business News.

Ready for more? Read the week’s most important headlines!

Government Actions

Under the National Production Improvement Program, 471,000 tilapia calves were released this week at the reservoir of the Adolfo López Mateos dam. This benefits fishermen and other permit holders in the area.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER) has taken another step to help grow small aquaculture producers by announcing that the National Institute for Fishery (INAPESCA) will create a scheme to supply genetic resources to small businesses in this sector.

The Ministry is collaborating with 17 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean to fortify the implementation of the Sterile Insect Technique. This technique has been used by the government for 40 years to combat the Mediterranean fly at the southern border.

The Ministry is coordinating efforts to promote and implement the “Practical Guide for the Prevention and Mitigation of COVID-19 in Agriculture,” published by the International Labor Organization (ILO).

According to the Ministry, more than 53,000 producers have received fertilizers in Guerrero through the Fertilizers for Well-Being program. This is said to be a progress of 66 percent in reaching the supply goal, which requires an average of 65 daily trips of cargo transportation.

According to Ministry, 79.6 percent of the year’s target in terms of number of producers has been reached in the Production for Well-Being program. This represents 1.67 million producers of corn, beans, wheat rice, cane, coffee and other grains. So far, 69.5 percent of the budget has been used.

CANAINPESCA, a national association that represents fisherman and aquaculture farmers, issued a statement this week to signal its discontent with the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit’s (SHCP) decision to eliminate fiscal stimuli for coastal gasoline and marine diesel, published on May 29. Considering that fuel costs make up 70 percent of vessel and farm operations, this could make operational costs too high.

The Ministry of Economy has officially concluded the USMCA negotiation with US and Canadian counterparts, opening the way for new trade opportunities.

Science & Technology

COLPOS shares new technology to improve the production of sugarcane in a sustainable manner.

Nature Conservation

According to InfoRural, public resources destined for the protection of Protected Natural Areas (ANP) were reduced by 86 percent over the last seven years. This is putting the conservation of many natural areas, including crucial forests, in danger.

Exports

More than 221,000 tons of Mexican meat were exported in 2019 through the country’s 140 federal inspection plants (TIF). The main destinations were the US, Japan, Korea, China, Hong Kong, Cuba, Canada, Guatemala, Chile, Germany, Panama and Nicaragua.

COVID-19

This week, Grupo Modelo and Cerveza Victoria delivered 10,000 facemasks to the staff of the Mexico City Ministry of Mobility. These are to be provided to hundreds of taxi drivers and other personnel employed in mobility. The masks are said to be reusable.  

News in other countries

Reuters reports that US Senators have introduced a bipartisan bill which could push the Agriculture Department to assist farmers in adopting carbon dioxide-absorbing practices, in exchange for carbon credits.

The chief executive of Pilgrim’s Pride Corp was indicted together with three current and former industry executives on charges of attempting to fix prices of chicken, Reuters reports.

On Wednesday, Brazilian labor prosecutors filed a petition with a local court demanding closure of a JBS pork plant in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul. Their motivation is an outbreak of COVID-19 which is said to have taken place at the plant, Reuter reports. 

A US court blocked Bayer’s right to sell a weed-killer containing the chemical Dicamba, Reuters reports. This is the second herbicide of Bayer that is facing legal action.