Mexico faces agricultural crisis as maize production declines

Mexico is facing a growing agricultural crisis characterized by declining domestic maize production and increasing reliance on international imports. In the state of Morelos, farmers report severe losses in corn and sorghum crops due to lack of rainfall. This drought has also impacted sugarcane yields and livestock, with cattle dying due to a lack of water and green pasture.

Local producers in Morelos warn that the inability to harvest crops will leave farmers unable to repay debts for seeds and fertilizer, potentially forcing them to sell land at low prices and triggering social conflict. Current social policies for agricultural aid are described as insufficient to address the scale of the crisis.

Nationally, the lack of financing for agricultural cycles is weakening Mexico's capacity to meet its own food needs. Projections from the Secretariat of Agriculture indicate that for the 2025/26 cycle, Mexico may import 27 million tons of maize against a domestic production of 25 million tons. This trend is expected to continue into the 2026/27 cycle, with imports projected to rise to 27.7 million tons while domestic production falls to 24.6 million tons.