Welfare Programs Expand Support for Small-Scale Producers

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER) presented the progress made in the delivery of Welfare Programs. Among the main achievements, the Production for Well-Being program has already reached 100% of its target beneficiaries, while other key initiatives have shown significant advances in coverage and expansion.

Leonel Cota, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, highlighted that the Production for Well-Being program has already reached 100% coverage since May, benefiting over 2 million small-scale farmers who cultivate less than 5ha. He emphasized the significant progress made, securing production guarantees for corn and beans, and added that with recent rainfall, exceptional harvests are expected for these crops.

María Luisa Albores, Director of Food for Well-Being, reported that 353 corn collection centers have been opened across 26 states in the country. Through these centers, 252,880t of corn were directly purchased from 15,815 producers at a rate of MX$6,000/t. “All the corn we collect goes directly to our stores; it is the corn that goes straight to feed the Mexicans who have the least,” she stated.

Regarding beans, the government directly purchased 101,587t from 12,336 producers. This operation was carried out in 114 collection centers located in 59 municipalities across 14 states. Albores noted that 91.9% of the collected beans came from Zacatecas, Durango, Nayarit, and Chihuahua, which account for the majority of national bean production.

Albores also emphasized that Food for Well-Being began this year with direct coffee purchases from small-scale coffee growers in Guerrero, Oaxaca, Veracruz, and Puebla, acquiring a total of 913.56t. These actions benefited 6,646 small producers with an investment of MX$59.4 million (US$3.1 million). In the honey sector, 50t were collected in communities in Yucatan and Campeche through direct work with 279 producers.

The program director also presented three cacao-based products: chocolate bars, chocolate powder, and traditional Mexican chocolate, all made from cacao sourced from Indigenous communities in Tabasco and northern Chiapas. President Claudia Sheinbaum announced that the Chocolate for Well-Being will be sold through the approximately 26,000 Well-Being Stores expected to be operating this year in the country’s most remote areas. The initiative aims to create a fair market for small producers and promote healthy eating among consumers.

Albores specified that the chocolate bar will cost MX$14 and contain 50% cacao, 10% cacao butter, and 35% cane sugar. The powdered version will be priced at MX$38, with 30% cacao, cane sugar, and added vitamins. Meanwhile, the traditional version will sell for MX$96 and is made with 35% cacao, cinnamon, and cane sugar.

Cota noted that the Bienpesca program has also reached full coverage, supporting nearly 200,000 fishers and aquaculture workers. Regarding Fertilizers for Well-Being, he indicated that deliveries to the 2 million small and medium-scale producers are expected to be completed by August: “The goal is to deliver 1 million mt of fertilizer for 3 million ha to produce the country’s key food crops,” he said.

Finally, Antonio Talamantes, Head, Milk for Well-Being, reported that the number of registered beneficiaries increased from 6.1 million in 2024 to 6.3 million as of May 4 this year, 60% of whom are women. The target for 2025 is to reach 7 million beneficiaries, and by the end of the administration, distribute milk to 10 million people. In terms of distribution, the program currently operates 12,586 milk shops. An additional 2,500 stores are planned to open this year in partnership with Welfare stores, with a final goal of 20,000 locations.

Talamantes also announced the construction of a pasteurization plant in Campeche with a daily capacity of 100,000L. The project includes rehabilitating three collection centers and opening a new one, with operations set to begin in December. A second facility, a milk drying plant, is planned for Michoacan, with a capacity of 250,000L and is scheduled to start operations in September 2026.