Corn Crisis in Quintana Roo: Battle to Save Traditional Seeds

Native corn production in Quintana Roo, Mexico has plunged by 70%. Amid debates over corn imports and glyphosate use, the region is seeing a significant decline in not only corn production but also the number of farmers. This is particularly evident in Maya Zone communities outside the mechanized zone in the municipality of José María Morelos. Here, traditional rain-fed farming and the farmers themselves are on the brink of extinction. Despite this, some are battling to maintain the tradition that has fed their families for generations and to save Mexican seeds.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries, and Food (Sagarpa), corn planting in the state has seen a major decline. As of February 2024, Quintana Roo had no yellow corn production. For white corn, 2,560 hectares were planted, 450 hectares were harvested, and a total of 309 tons of grain was produced. This is a staggering 69.8% decrease from the same period the previous year.

During the same period, Mexico as a whole planted 858,731 hectares of corn, harvested 858,382 hectares, and produced an estimated 6,576,487 tons of grain. This represents a 26% decrease from the previous period.

Jorge Cob, a 54-year-old farmer and landowner, warns that farming is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain each year. This is due to a lack of field support and the rising use of hybrid corn seeds. Despite efforts to preserve Mexican seeds, the outlook is bleak due to insufficient government support and the high cost of inputs like fertilizers.

For Cob, his two-hectare crop has enabled him to provide for his family. However, he admits that the agricultural tradition is fading, as none of his children intend to continue farming. The importance of preserving native Mexican corn lies in its adaptability and resistance to various conditions, as well as its superior taste and quality compared to commercial hybrid corn.