Background on the Program and Its Importance in Puebla
The local Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development (Sader), Ana Laura Altamirano Pérez, highlighted the significance of establishing a pasteurization plant in Puebla due to the state’s annual milk production of 470 million liters. This initiative is part of the “Leche para el Bienestar” (Milk for Well-being) program, which aims to support dairy producers and ensure a steady supply of milk for consumers.
Details of the Milk Collection Centers and Pasteurization Plant
Under the “Leche para el Bienestar” program, three milk collection centers will be set up in the municipalities of Coronango, Libres, and Tecamachalco. Additionally, a pasteurization plant is planned, with its exact location yet to be determined.
Víctor Hugo Pérez Rojas, the national manager of Social Supply of Milk for Well-being, explained that over 219,000 people benefit from the milk distribution, covering 145,000 households in 188 out of Puebla’s 217 municipios.
Milk Collection and Distribution
Pérez Rojas mentioned that the collection centers will process and distribute milk from local producers, ensuring them a fair price for their products.
Currently, there are 10 operational plants nationwide, with Campeche, Michoacán, and Puebla’s plants expected to join them soon, capable of producing milk for the upcoming year.
Program Reach and Impact
The “Leche para el Bienestar” program has a network of over 700 routes covering 89% of Mexico’s municipios, benefiting more than 6.4 million beneficiaries across 12,570 lecherías.
This program addresses five key issues: food insecurity, malnutrition, strengthening family economies, hunger, and poverty.
The subsidized price for milk is 7.50 pesos per liter, with discounted rates of 6.50 and 4.50 pesos per liter for extremely poor communities.
Furthermore, the program purchases milk from over 3,100 small and medium-sized producers at a guaranteed price of 11.50 pesos per liter, considered the best reference price in the country.
Local Government Support
Ana Laura Altamirano Pérez, the local Sader secretary, noted that Governor Alejandro Armenta Mier will soon sign his support for the pasteurization plant’s construction.
The funding for the milk plant will come from both state and federal governments, though the exact amount remains undetermined as the project is still under development.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the “Leche para el Bienestar” program? It’s a Mexican initiative that ensures fair prices for dairy producers and provides subsidized milk to consumers, addressing food insecurity and malnutrition.
- How many milk collection centers will be established in Puebla? Three centers will be set up in Coronango, Libres, and Tecamachalco.
- Where will the pasteurization plant be located? The exact location is still to be determined.
- How many people will benefit from this program in Puebla? Over 219,000 people will be supported, covering 145,000 households across 188 municipios.
- What is the subsidized price for milk under this program? The price is 7.50 pesos per liter, with discounted rates for extremely poor communities.
- How will the funding for the pasteurization plant be secured? The state and federal governments will contribute, though the exact amount is still under development.
