The Government of Mexico, led by President Claudia Sheinbaum, aims to reduce the price of corn tortillas, a staple in the Mexican diet, by 10%. Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development, Julio Berdegué, announced this goal along with the pursuit of self-sufficiency in non-GMO white corn and beans.
"We invite you to a national agreement for corn and tortillas, with a very ambitious goal of reducing the price of tortillas during the six-year term by up to 10% in real terms," the official stated at the morning conference from the National Palace. Currently, the average price of a kilogram of tortillas is 23.17 pesos in tortilla shops, representing a 61.7% increase since December 2018.
To achieve this goal, the Government will implement the 'Harvesting Sovereignty' program aimed at increasing the production of corn, beans, rice, milk, sorghum, onion, tomato, and chili. The main focus will be on ensuring self-sufficiency of non-GMO white corn and beans, fundamental for nutrition and Mexican culture.
Mexico currently imports a large amount of beans, so it plans to cultivate 763,000 hectares with certified high-quality genetic seeds. There will also be efforts to increase the production of rice and milk, with specific targets for each.
Additionally, 1,200 municipalities with poverty were identified where agricultural production will be promoted through credits, marketing support, and social programs. The previously implemented social programs will also remain, aimed at benefiting more than two million people each.
Another important aspect is the concern about producing more but with less environmental impact, as it is recognized that 75% of the country's water is allocated to agriculture. Efforts will be made to implement more sustainable practices to ensure food production without harming the environment.
