Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto confirmed his commitment to increasing the production of the Mexican countryside, and stressed the need for the country's food industry to harness its full potential for the benefit of Mexican families.

During the event, at which he witnessed the signing of the agreement between the federal government and the State of Sinaloa to boost the agrofood business in the state, the president said that guaranteeing food security among Mexicans "is a goal we all share." The agreement provides for the federal government's contribution of approximately US$500 million to various programs to support production in Sinaloa's agrofood industry.

After pointing out that one of the objectives of his government is to raise the productivity of the country's primary sector, he stressed that "modernization, mechanization, inputs support and, above all, guaranteeing credit for agribusiness activity, will allow us to trigger that potential to ensure food security among Mexicans."

He stated that Sinaloa ranks first in national production of corn, tomatoes, green tomato, cucumber and chickpeas, and that seven out of every ten tortillas consumed in the country are made from corn from that state. "It is a national example of productivity and capacity to make the countryside, fishing and ranching profitable activities that will contribute to the economic development of Mexico and ensure food production for Mexicans."

President Peña Nieto endorsed the commitment of his government "to combine efforts by the federal and state governments regarding the modernization of the countryside, and livestock and fisheries activities, in the state of Sinaloa," in order to continue being the engine of the state's social and economic development.

At the meeting with Sinaloa farmers, he stressed, "The political commitment to the state government in order to benefit Sinaloa," because, "We have noticed that in the normal democratic climate currently being experienced by our country, it is essential for there to be a convergence of efforts at all levels of government to deliver more results to Mexicans."

After stating that the most important thing for the government is to operate effectively, the president urged Sinaloa producers to integrate their proposals and experiences into the National Development Plan, adding that "the government wants to be a permanent interlocutor between society, agricultural producers in Sinaloa, and the whole country."

He confirmed the commitments made to the state during his electoral campaign in order to "develop a program to support agricultural producers in order to leverage the technological development of the countryside." He also instructed the heads of the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food, and the National Water Commission, to meet promptly with the state governor and representatives of the agrofood sectors of Sinaloa to determine when, how and in what time frame the various hydraulic works pledged to the state of Sinaloa will be carried out.

Sinaloa is Committed to the National Crusade Against Hunger

Stating that, "Today Mexico has the strong, visionary leadership of Enrique Peña Nieto," Governor of Sinaloa Mario López Valdez said the new formula for transforming Mexico is that everyone will do his or her part to advance the country.

Within this framework, he asked the president of Mexico to regard Sinaloa producers as his great allies in the public policies designed to combat "the scourge of hunger." He also pledged the contribution of the state's ranchers, fishermen and farmers to the National Crusade against Hunger, with an additional 3 million tons of grain, 100,000 tons of meat and 500,000 tons of fish products. He also expressed his aim of sharing agricultural technology with other states through cooperation agreements.

López Valdez said there is a different mood in the country: "It is the spirit of hope and certainty that creates a project to transform the country and the responsible exercise of power, where the focus is on human beings and their fundamental rights; they are the hallmarks of effective government," he said, adding: "A government that respects ideological diversity and not only that, makes it productive for the benefit of Mexico."

SAGARPA engages in Ongoing Dialogue with Mexican Agricultural Producers

After pointing out that food production has declined, and that only 57 percent of what is consumed in Mexico is produced in the Mexican countryside, Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food Enrique Martinez y Martinez said that the government seeks to remove the barriers that have prevented the development of the countryside in recent years.

He noted that during the first three months of the current federal administration, the Secretariat that he directs has maintained an ongoing dialogue with Mexican producers, thereby complying with the instructions of President Peña Nieto to deal with the barriers that hinder the growth of the sector. "We will soon present the actions and the time required to solve them."

Martínez y Martínez said that the government is very clear that in order to achieve the goals set, and to change the face of the countryside through competitiveness, it is necessary to have the strategy and daily commitment of farmers, the effort of livestock owners, and the determination of fishermen, both in Sinaloa and the rest of the country.

Sinaloa's Producers Support the National Crusade Against Hunger

Livestock producers, farmers and fish producers in Sinaloa confirmed their support and commitment to the National Crusade against Hunger, led by the administration of President Peña Nieto, in addition to several of the government's social programs.

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Presidency of the Republic, Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mar. 4, 2013; translation by Presidency of the Republic