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Corn Farmers Protest Federal Support Programs in Mexico

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Mexican corn farmers in Valle de Chalco, Estado de Mexico, protested against companies benefiting from federal support programs, accusing them of unfair competition. The farmers claimed that the companies were selling tortillas at 3 pesos per kilo, contradicting the official price of 6 pesos. The farmers also demanded that beans and white corn be excluded from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), citing its negative impact on their crops. President Vicente Fox responded by stating that government support was aimed at aiding both producers and consumers, and that the market would regulate the sale of tortillas and corn.

Key Takeaways:

  • Corn farmers in Mexico protested against companies benefiting from federal support programs, accusing them of unfair competition.
  • The farmers complained that the companies were selling tortillas at 3 pesos per kilo, contradicting the official price of 6 pesos.
  • The farmers demanded that beans and white corn be excluded from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), citing its negative impact on their crops.
  • President Vicente Fox assured the farmers that government support was aimed at aiding both producers and consumers.
  • Fox claimed that the market would regulate the sale of tortillas and corn, implying that the government would not directly intervene in the market.
  • The farmers were concerned about the economic stability and the impact of NAFTA on their crops.
  • The protest highlighted the disparities between the prices of tortillas and the official market price.
  • Lorenzo Mejia, representative of the National Association of Mill and Tortilla Companies, was present during the protest and voiced the concerns of the corn farmers.

Statistics:

  • 3 pesos per kilo: the price at which companies were selling tortillas, according to the farmers.
  • 6 pesos per kilo: the official price of tortillas.
  • No specific data was provided on the number of corn farmers protesting or the revenue generated through the federal support programs.
  • NAFTA was mentioned as a source of concern for the corn farmers, but no specific data was provided on its impact.

Sources:

  • El Economista
  • Corporate Mexico by Internet Securities, Inc.
  • COMTEX via Internet Securities, Inc. (http://www.comtexnews.com)

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