මෙක්සිකෝවේ ආහාර මිල ඉහළට

Extreme weather fuels food shortage, price hikes in Mexico

Mexico is suffering from food price hikes and potential food shortages after extreme weather conditions devastated crops across the country.

The substantial decrease in agricultural yields caused by extreme weather has resulted in a surge in food prices in the country, including those of corn tortillas, a staple in the country.

"A single taco costs 17 pesos, but the price used to be 10 pesos five years ago," said Juan Gonzalez, a food vendor.

Mexico has also been grappling with the challenges posed by extreme drought, which has impacted a staggering 81 percent of the country.

"The yield of cilantro has dropped this year. That's why its price has risen so much," said Oscar Naciel, a wholesaler.

The country's leading agricultural consultancy group, Agricultural Markets Consulting Group (GCMA), considers extreme weather to be a grave concern for the country's agricultural sector.

"We have had the lowest volumes of rain since 1985. Many of our agricultural products are seasonal. This year, the imports of grain and oilseeds will increase from 39 to 43 million tons. Year after year, the import record continues to be broken," said Juan Carlos Anaya, GCMA director.

Faced with the challenges posed by extreme weather, Juan Carlos Anaya expresses hopes the government will reinstate agricultural support programs to revitalize the sector.

"Previously, there were support programs in place that included technical assistance, greenhouses, and many other things. However, the government has suspended and canceled all these programs. The agricultural insurance program has also been eliminated. This means that no producers of fruits, vegetables, and grain can get insurance support. So, there is a lot of work to do," said Juan Carlos Anaya.

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