Mexico: The National Producers Union of Rice and Beans (1970s) also known as the Federal Producers of Rice Grains and Cereals of Mexico (1990s) in Mexico City, Federal District and throughout the country; its mandate, evolution, membership base, governing body (presidents, directors, etc.), elected or appointed, and ties to political parties (1970 to 2004)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 9 June 2004 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | MEX42688.E |
| Reference | 5 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Mexico: The National Producers Union of Rice and Beans (1970s) also known as the Federal Producers of Rice Grains and Cereals of Mexico (1990s) in Mexico City, Federal District and throughout the country; its mandate, evolution, membership base, governing body (presidents, directors, etc.), elected or appointed, and ties to political parties (1970 to 2004), 9 June 2004, MEX42688.E, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/41501c3415.html [accessed 5 November 2017] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Information on the above-mentioned topic could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. However, MEX41255.E of 18 March 2003 about the National Basic Foods Company (Compania Nacional de Subsistencias Populares, CONASUPO), a government-run organization that controlled the wholesale prices of food staples such as rice and corn, and the following related information may be relevant. Mexico's national agricultural policy includes food assistance programs such as the DICONSA (Distribuidora e Impulsora Comercial CONASUPO) (Conexionejecutiva.com n.d.; Mexico Dec. 2003; Canada May 2002) and a support program for subsistence farmers called the Program of Direct Rural Support (Programa de Apoyos Directos al Campo, PROCAMPO) (ibid.; Mexico 2003).
DICONSA is a national government-sponsored program operating in poor and rural areas to provide basic food staples such as beans, corn and rice at subsidized prices (Canada May 2002; Mexico Dec. 2003). According to its Website, DISCONSA employs 7,665 workers and provides food from over 22,000 rural outlets across the country (ibid.). In addition to its national headquarters in Mexico City, DICONSA operates 15 offices and 18 operative units (ibid.).
Created in 1993, PROCAMPO was intended to improve rural families' income and at the outset this program supported about 3.3 million farmers producing food staples such as corn, beans, wheat and rice (Mexico 2003; US May 1996). Nevertheless, sources reported that PROCAMPO was scheduled to end in 2008 (Canada May 2002) and that the program's 15-year time span had been intended to provide farmers the time necessary to establish alternative crops, implement new technologies, foster associations with other farmers or agricultural corporations, and optimize land use (US May 1996).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Canada. May 2002. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. "Mexico Agri-Food Country Profile." Conexionejecutiva.com. n.d. "Oficinas Paraestatales Mexico." Mexico. December 2003. DICONSA. "Informacion General de DICONSA S.A. de C.V." ____. 2003. PROCAMPO. "Preguntas frecuentes sobre PROCAMPO." United States (US). May 1996. Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress. Mexico Country Studies. "Government Agricultural Policy." Additional Sources Consulted
Internet: Europa World Online, Google, IRB databases, La Jornada [Mexico City], El Universal [Mexico City], World News Connection/Dialog.
