Ministry of Finance Calls for Food Security

Among this week’s top stories, Rogelio Ramírez, Mexico’s Minister of Finance, urged G20 delegates to implement joint initiatives to address food security. Meanwhile, Mexican farmers expressed their concern about contradictory food policies implemented by the Federal government.

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Minister of Finance Calls on G20 to Address Food Security

During the Intergovernmental Forum G20, Rogelio Ramírez de la O, Mexico’s Minister of Finance, urged participants to take action and implement joint initiatives to address food security. Ramírez noted that extraordinary measures are needed to ensure food supply in all countries, and highlighted the measures taken by the Mexican government with the Program Against Inflation and Scarcity (PACIC) to stabilize the prices of the basic food basket.

Farmers Say Government Policies Threaten Food Security

The Mexican Union of Agricultural Manufacturers and Developers (UMFFAAC), as well as members of the Confederation of Agricultural Associations of the State of Sinaloa (CAADES) have expressed their concern regarding contradictory food policies the government adopted, which in their opinion undermine the country’s food security amid rising inflation. Presidents of both organizations agreed that to achieve food self-sufficiency, it is necessary to implement policies that encourage production in the countryside, as well as champion measures that support the agricultural producer with technical inputs such as fertilizers and technology.

Cempasuchil Production Increases in 2022

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER) reported that national production of 20,245 tons of cempasuchil is expected for the 2022 agricultural cycle, an increase of 4 percent over last year. In 2021, the production of the so-called Mexican marigold flower plant reached 19,442 tons and brought in over MX$93.4 million (US$4.67 million). Santiago Argüello, General Coordinator of Agriculture, SADER, said that 5 million cempasuchil plants were produced this year in Xochimilco, Mexico City, resulting in an increase of 40 percent in comparison to the volume produced last year in this area. 

Mexico, Chile Establish Alliance Regarding Protected Agriculture

On Oct. 18, the city of Requinoa, Chile, hosted the international seminar “Sustainable and Protected Horticulture in Chile.” The event was attended by experts from Mexico and Chile with the aim to boost protected agriculture in the O'Higgins region and avoid crop loss due to climate change. In September, HortiCrece signed a cooperation agreement with the Ceickor University Center, one of the most important higher education institutions in Mexico, located in the state of Queretaro. The agreement will allow horticulturists to travel and learn about the technologies offered by the institution. Furthermore, the agreement aims to establish further cooperation between Mexico and Chile in areas such as science, technology and innovation regarding horticulture. 

Planting Better Seeds Key for Mexico’s Food Security

Increasing the productivity of staple crops like maize and wheat in Mexico remains a key development priority. Mexican smallholder farmers play a major role in food production but face increasing pressure to grow enough volumes of nutritious and affordable foods to feed their families and improve their livelihood. Mexico relies on grain imports from the US to cover approximately 73 percent of its annual consumption of yellow maize. It is, therefore, necessary to raise annual maize output by increasing smallholder farmers’ productivity in areas where Mexico still has a substantial yield gap.