Mexico City.- Despite the good performance of the crop and the success achieved for more than 20 years, in 2019 the cotton production plummeted 35% and will continue that trend for the lack of seeds by not authorizing Semarnat the use of genetically modified seeds.
For this reason, members of the cotton value chain, represented by farmers, producers, ginners and textile manufacturers, participated in the Virtual Forum: “Cotton situation in Mexico: challenges and opportunities”, organized by the Crop Protection, Science and Technology Association , AC (PROCCYT).
There, along with other specialists, they agreed that the sector in Mexico is on high alert due to SEMARNAT’s refusal to authorize the planting of genetically modified seeds.
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In this regard, Relbo Raúl Treviño, president of the National Cotton Product System Committee, recalled that, despite being based on science and in accordance with the law, the federal authorities have denied 19 requests, arguing that Mexico is the center of origin of cotton. , with some wild populations found in the southeast of the country.
The representative of cotton farmers in Mexico stressed that the refusal of the authorities puts them at a disadvantage compared to producers from other countries, who also use improved seeds. He pointed out that the opportunity to produce 500 thousand bales by 2024 is being wasted, that is, an increase of 30% and more than 50,000 hectares, which represents a growth of 27% of GDP.
Cotton is the most important non-food crop in the world and could continue to be for Mexico, especially if one takes into account that its value chain represents business for more than 13,000 million pesos per year. It generates textile products of great interest to the population, and impact by-products in industries such as animal nutrition and paper production.
It is labor intensive and is one of the largest generators of employment in the field. In fact, it is estimated that, on average, 8,000 farmers grow cotton each year in Chihuahua, Baja California, Coahuila, Sonora, Durango, and Tamaulipas. But not only that, it also contributes to the environment. As of 1997, at least 667 tons of active ingredient of insecticides have not been applied to the environment for their production, according to information presented by Cristian García De Paz, executive director of PROCCYT.
For his part, Juan Cortina Gallardo, president of the National Agricultural Council (CNA), said: “Despite the good performance of the crop and the success achieved for more than 20 years, in 2019 cotton production plummeted 35% and this situation It will get worse because since 2020 farmers have faced a shortage of seeds and the lack of support from some authorities to provide a solution.”
Also, he pointed out that the shortage of seeds is strengthening the use of illegal productssuch as smuggling and the recovered seed from the cuttings, with the consequent ignorance of the genetic technologies that may be being introduced and released, as well as the loss of control for the authority.
The illegal market in Mexico is growing rapidly, representing a serious problem, with very serious potential environmental and economic effects. Illegal seed represents a high risk for the environment, for the sector and for users.
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The Forum brought together specialists such as: Juan Cortina Gallardo, president of the CNA; Francisco Javier Trujillo Villalobos, chief director of SENASICA; Rhiannon Elms, agricultural attaché at the US Embassy in Mexico; Senator for Baja California Nancy Sánchez; Manuel Espinosa, president of CANAINTEX; Kenneth Smith, partner at AGON Economics, Law, Strategy; as well as producers from Baja California, Chihuahua and Tamaulipas.
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