Sonora's Wheat Production Expected to Increase

Wheat production in Sonora is expected to grow 10 percent in the current agricultural cycle, positively impacting cereal production. The state ranks first in wheat production in the country, contributing 53 percent to the total national production.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER) indicated that when the wheat harvesting started during the  2020-2021 fall cycle on October 15, 236,643 hectares were planted compared to 232,601 hectares planted in the 2019-2020 fall cycle Totaling 4,042 hectares more. SADER expects an estimated volume of 1,689,631.59 tons due to colder weather that has favored wheat growth in addition to a significantly increased number of hectares planted.

Most of the wheat producers in Sonora are small and medium-sized and use 100 percent improved seeds from the National Seed Inspection and Certification Service (SNICS) in their harvests. Mexico has been moving toward scientific and technological development for some time now. As previously reported by MBN, there have also been collaborations with other initiatives to achieve better production, guarantee food security, and promote the sector's economic recovery. "Mexico is convinced of the need to guarantee accessibility to technologies among low-income producers, adapting it, when required, to local needs," said Víctor Villalobos Arámbula, Minister of SADER. Villalobos added that it is not possible to think that a solution to the current pandemic crisis can be reached while regions or groups lag behind technology. 

So far, 222,382 hectares have been harvested with a total volume production of 1,586,819.90 tons. The number represents 93.9 percent of the sown area and average performance of 7.14 tons per hectares. It is estimated an increase of 560 kilograms per hectare, reports SADER. 

The National Agricultural Planning 2017-2030 report indicates that wheat grain production is divided into crystalline wheat and flour wheat. Crystalline wheat represents 59.79 percent of the wheat production that satisfies domestic consumption and places Mexico as the third-largest exporter of this product worldwide. In contrast, flour wheat production is insufficient to supply domestic demand, so there is a dependence on imports, equivalent to 74.93 percent of domestic consumption.

SADER indicates that flour wheat production does not meet national production requirements, achieving only 25.07 percent of the nation's food requirements, while crystalline wheat meets the absolute necessities. Still, in both cases, the US is the leading supplier of wheat grain.

The volume obtained in the current agricultural cycle will go to the domestic industry to produce flour and pasta and all of the crystalline wheat will be exported.