Guerrero tortilla producers seek government aid amid corn shortages

Abdón Hernández Olvera, a leader in the corn and tortilla industry in Chilpancingo, Guerrero, has called on state and federal authorities to intervene to prevent rising prices for staple goods. The request comes as a severe drought affects agricultural production across Mexico, with an estimated 190,000 hectares in Guerrero lost, potentially reducing corn yields by 550,000 to 600,000 tons.

To stabilize the supply chain and protect family economies, industry leaders are requesting a guarantee of at least 3,000 tons of corn. They have proposed establishing direct commercialization mechanisms with producers in states such as Guanajuato, Michoacán, Jalisco, and Hidalgo to bypass intermediaries who influence market prices. Additionally, high freight costs, reaching approximately 1,400 pesos per ton for transport to Guerrero, are further driving up the cost of tortillas.