Agriculture
From The Report: Mexico 2015
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After a decade of slow growth, averaging 1.3% per year, Mexico’s agriculture sector made a comeback in 2014, outperforming the wider economy and highlighting the sector’s counter-cyclical nature. Buoyed by favourable climatic conditions, the sector ended 2014 posting growth of 2.8%, with total production reaching a value of $53.3bn, according to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography. Meanwhile, total agro-food exports (including agro-industrial goods) reached a record $25.6bn in 2014. While the sector’s performance continues to suffer from a number of structural inefficiencies, particularly in relation to the ongoing prevalence of small farmers and the slow adoption of technology, measures to incentivise production and increase access to financing among small producers should see the sector continue on its path to recovery.

This chapter includes interviews with Ricardo Aguilar Castillo, Under-Secretary of Food and Competitiveness, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Rural Development, Fisheries and Food (SAGARPA) and Javier Valdes, Managing Director, Syngenta Mexico.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Recovery path: Though inefficiencies linger, sector growth takes positive turn
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After a decade of slow growth, averaging 1.3% per year, Mexico’s agriculture sector made a comeback in 2014, outperforming the wider economy and highlighting the sector’s counter-cyclical nature. A number of structural inefficiencies, particularly in relation to the ongoing prevalence of small farmers and the slow adoption of technology, continue to limit growth. However, increased productivity and exports enabled positive growth in 2014, a trend expected to continue in 2015. Because of the…

Analysis

Dynamic efficiencies: Government establishing a network of agro-industrial clusters
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In an ongoing effort to increase the competitiveness of Mexico’s agriculture sector, the government of President Enrique Peña Nieto is working to establish a national network of agroparks – agro-industrial clusters that concentrate various parts of the production value chain, from storage to processing, value addition activities and logistics services. The concept, which is part of the government’s Programme for Agrofood Productivity and Competitiveness, is expected to spur dynamism in the…

Interview

Credit where it is due: OBG talks to Ricardo Aguilar Castillo, Under-Secretary of Food and Competitiveness, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Rural Development, Fisheries and Food (SAGARPA)
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Interview:Ricardo Aguilar Castillo What changes have been implemented to improve Mexico’s agricultural productivity? RICARDO AGUILAR CASTILLO: The transformation of the agriculture sector is ongoing. Through public policies, its main goal is transitioning to a new model that will lead to a more sustainable, fair and productive sector. Changes in SAGARPA’s structure were implemented in 2013 and visible throughout 2014, with operational rules modified to transition to a focus on productivity.…

Interview

A reform movement: OBG talks to Javier Valdés, Managing Director, Syngenta Mexico
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Interview:Javier Valdés Where is agricultural technology being widely applied, and what is its level of sophistication? JAVIER VALDÉS: Agricultural technology is used all over the country, depending on agroecological conditions. While the north is the most developed and the south the least, we are seeing new opportunities due to an advancement of technology application southward. Northern Mexico contains some of the world’s most sophisticated vegetable production fields, utilising…