Introduction to San Luis Potosí and its Agricultural Sector
San Luis Potosí, a state in Mexico covering 61,138 km² (3.1% of the nation’s territory), has a population of 2.8 million, with 52.3% residing in rural areas and 47.7% in urban zones. The state experiences an average annual temperature of 21°C, with a maximum of 32°C in May and a minimum of 8.4°C in January. Annual precipitation averages 950 mm, occurring from June to September.
These climatic conditions foster an agricultural and livestock production vocation. San Luis Potosí contributes 2.2% to the national GDP, totaling 537,900 million pesos, with 45.7% allocated to the tertiary sector, 44.6% to secondary, and 4.6% to primary activities.
Key Agricultural Crops and Livestock
Major crops include sugarcane (93,000 ha), corn (84,000 ha), beans (57,000 ha), oranges (32,000 ha), and chili peppers (25,000 ha). The state also supports a diverse range of crops with smaller acreages, such as tomatoes, sorghum, coffee, soybeans, alfalfa, prickly pear, lychee, watermelon, and papaya.
In the livestock sector, San Luis Potosí boasts an inventory of 978,898 head of cattle, 326,000 pigs, 310,000 goats, 293,000 sheep, and 20.7 million poultry.
Tourism and its Economic Impact
The state’s tourism offerings, including six “Pueblos Mágicos” and 20 tourist sites in the “Huasteca Potosina” region, attracted 2 million tourists and generated a 3,377-million-peso economic impact (5.7% of the state’s GDP).
Challenges and Solutions in San Luis Potosí’s Agricultural Sector
Farmers in San Luis Potosí produce raw materials sold through intermediaries, often resulting in low prices, delayed payments, and fraud. To overcome these challenges, farmers need to add value to their harvests, optimize productive processes, responsibly manage natural resources, ensure social responsibility, modernize and expand production capacities, and access financial services to complement investment needs and diversify productive networks.
The livestock sector accounts for 50% of the state’s agro-livestock GDP, but it faces a severe crisis due to recurring droughts, deforestation, and overgrazing.
Leading Companies and FIRA’s Role
Two leading national companies, Productores Ganaderos GUSI and Praderas Huastecas, handle the accumulation, fattening, slaughtering, and processing of 500,000 heads of cattle annually from across the country.
Fideicomisos Instituidos en Relación con la Agricultura (FIRA) supports producers by offering financial and technological solutions to their needs through various intermediaries.
Programas de Desarrollo de Proveedores (PDP)
An example of FIRA’s solutions is the Programas de Desarrollo de Proveedores (PDP), which aims to integrate small producers with meat industrializers or commercializers through technical accompaniment focused on producing optimal raw materials demanded by the market.
Currently, two PDPs are implemented with GUSI and Praderas Huastecas, benefiting 120 livestock producers who receive technical advice, training, and technology transfer.
Regenerative Livestock: A Path to Sustainability
Regenerative livestock, based on planned rotational grazing, locally adapted cattle genetics, habitat restoration for wildlife, and erosion prevention, is gaining traction in San Luis Potosí.
Promoted alternatives include carbon certificate emissions, biochar production using ranch biomass, and organic carbon capture in the soil. These options provide additional income from livestock sales while offering significant environmental benefits to the region.
Author’s Note
Guillermo Núñez Aispuro, FIRA’s state representative in San Luis Potosí, expresses his views here. These opinions do not necessarily align with FIRA’s official stance.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is regenerative livestock? Regenerative livestock focuses on planned rotational grazing, locally adapted cattle genetics, habitat restoration for wildlife, and erosion prevention.
- Why is regenerative livestock important for San Luis Potosí? The state’s agricultural sector faces challenges such as low prices, delayed payments, and fraud. Regenerative livestock offers a sustainable solution by adding value to harvests, optimizing productive processes, and ensuring responsible resource management.
- What are the benefits of regenerative livestock practices? These practices can lead to additional income from carbon certificate emissions and biochar production, while also providing environmental benefits like improved soil fertility and carbon capture.
- Who supports regenerative livestock initiatives in San Luis Potosí? Fideicomisos Instituidos en Relación con la Agricultura (FIRA) and Programas de Desarrollo de Proveedores (PDP) support producers by offering financial and technological solutions.
