Mexico Congress Backs Sustainability in Water, Ag Policy

The Congressional Commission on Hydraulic Resources, Potable Water, and Sanitation has released a new report urging the adoption of sustainability indicators to guide policy amid the potential expansion of 300,000 hectares of irrigable land. The document outlines four key metrics to inform future agricultural and water strategies: productivity per cultivated hectare, output per cubic meter of water, farmer income and profitability, and total food production. According to lawmakers, these indicators aim to improve water management and land use, helping shape resource allocation decisions.

Titled “Problems, Challenges, and Opportunities in the Irrigation Sector for Agricultural Development and Sustainability in Mexico,” the report was unveiled on July 28 during the seventh ordinary meeting of the congressional water commission. It updates a 2015 study by the Rural Development and Food Sovereignty Research Center, which analyzed regional infrastructure, productivity, and water-use efficiency.

Morena Congresswoman Elizabeth Cervantes de la Cruz, who chairs the commission, said the report offers a strategic foundation for designing policies and investments that safeguard future food security. “It helps us understand infrastructure conditions, opportunities to improve low-risk agriculture, and regional differences in productive capacity,” she explained.

Worker’s Party Representative Magdalena del Socorro Núñez Monreal emphasized the need to craft policies that reflect the competitive advantages of each region. Cervantes also noted that most federal irrigation systems are located within districts managed by farmers' associations under federal concessions. She stressed that technical data—such as yield per hectare or productivity per volume of water—can identify underperformance across districts and help guide investment.

Report author Nahún Hamed García Villanueva highlighted the urgency of boosting domestic agricultural output, particularly with Mexico’s population projected to exceed 150 million by 2050. He pointed to rising caloric demand—expected to grow from 2,760 to 3,250 kilocalories per capita—as further evidence for strengthening staple crop production. “It is essential that agricultural expansion is both sustainable and inclusive, ensuring decent livelihoods for farmers and protecting the environment,” García said.

García advocated for a technical strategy centered on expanding irrigation, improving distribution systems, and modernizing irrigation at the parcel level. Hydro-agricultural expert Jaime Collado supported this vision, stressing that increased output must come either from expanding farmland or enhancing soil productivity. Both experts called for an 80% productivity boost through soil technification, underscoring the need for coordinated public-private investment.

Morena Deputy Xóchitl Nashielly Zagal Ramírez urged the government to take a more active role in ensuring food sovereignty by managing distribution directly, rather than ceding control to private actors who, she said, prioritize corporate gains over the national interest.

The National Association of Irrigation Users (ANUR) also welcomed the report. Executive Director Daniel González Covarrubias praised it as a clear and committed reflection of the realities facing farmers, while ANUR Treasurer Mario Martínez Montiel described it as a practical policy reference. “This is a valuable tool that offers a snapshot of current conditions, our sector’s needs, and the goals we must work toward,” Martínez said.