Introduction to the National Native Corn Plan
The Mexican government has introduced the National Native Corn Plan, a comprehensive program aimed at preserving, producing, and adding value to native Mexican corn. The government views native corn as the “root” of national identity.
Objectives and Scope
According to authorities, the plan’s primary goals are to conserve, transform, and commercialize native Mexican corn while strengthening community-based agroecological systems. This will be achieved by promoting traditional milpa (maize, beans, and squash) farming and integrating technical support, light machinery, and knowledge exchange spaces.
Key Areas of Focus
- Conservation and Transformation: The plan aims to protect native corn varieties and enhance their production value.
- Community-Based Agroecological Systems: The initiative supports local farming practices and knowledge exchange.
- Technical Support, Light Machinery, and Knowledge Exchange: These elements will be integrated to improve productivity and sustainability.
Leadership and Reach
María Luisa Albores, Director General of Alimentación para el Bienestar, highlighted the collaborative efforts and recognition of those who have safeguarded native corn biodiversity for years.
The program will initially cover seven states: Oaxaca, Chiapas, Guerrero, Yucatán, Campeche, Quintana Roo, and Tabasco. It will benefit over 677,000 producer families across 437 municipios by 2026, expanding to 1.5 million small-scale producers in 872 municipios across 29 states by 2030.
Productivity and Generational Transmission
The plan aims to increase productivity by 50% per hectare by 2030 through agronomic improvements and shared machinery use.
Additionally, the program will establish “milpa communities” – groups of 100 farmers, supported by young participants from the “Jóvenes Construyendo el Futuro” program – to encourage intergenerational knowledge transfer and sustainability.
President Sheinbaum’s Emphasis
President Claudia Sheinbaum stressed the importance of ensuring farmers, particularly women, continue growing their own corn and consuming milpa products.
Currently supported by the “Producción para el Bienestar” program and free fertilizer, farmers will now receive technical support and region-specific machinery. These resources will be collectively owned, reflecting Mexico’s history of cooperative organization.
Value Addition and Community Cooperation
Sheinbaum Pardo announced that the plan aims to prevent native corn surplus sales to intermediaries. Instead, value will be added through the production of tostadas, totopos, and tortillas with origin certification. This will be achieved through community cooperatives and women-led tortillerias.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the National Native Corn Plan? It’s a Mexican government initiative to preserve, produce, and add value to native corn varieties, recognizing their significance to national identity.
- Which states are initially covered by the plan? The program will start in Oaxaca, Chiapas, Guerrero, Yucatán, Campeche, Quintana Roo, and Tabasco.
- What are the plan’s productivity goals? The aim is to increase productivity by 50% per hectare by 2030.
- How does the plan support intergenerational knowledge transfer? It establishes “milpa communities” with young participants from the “Jóvenes Construyendo el Futuro” program.
- How will the plan ensure farmers benefit from native corn production? Farmers, especially women, will receive technical support, machinery, and origin-certified product value addition through cooperatives.
