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The Vice Minister of Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería (MAG), Óscar Domínguez, assured that El Salvador has a sufficient supply of corn and beans to meet national demand this year and next, thus ruling out any reason for unjustified price increases for these staple products.
These statements were made after the release of a CID Gallup study on the consumption of staple grains in salvadoran households. According to the research, the country consumes approximately 9.79 million quintals of corn and 1.60 million quintals of beans annually. The official explained that this data includes the various consumption patterns of both products and constitutes a key tool for planning national agricultural production.
Domínguez emphasized that for the past three years, the government’s production strategy has been based on consumption estimates like those reflected in the study. He noted that the Aumento a la Producción Program aims to reach up to 12 million quintals of corn and 1.9 million quintals of beans annually, volumes that would exceed the population’s estimated consumption.
The official explained that these crops are being grown primarily in areas with abundant rainfall through early planting, complemented by irrigation systems. The objective, he explained, is to guarantee the necessary production for human consumption, animal feed, and other productive uses.
Furthermore, he announced that next year’s projected increase is between 2 and 3 million quintals of corn and around 700,000 quintals of beans compared to the currently planned targets. According to Domínguez, this growth would be supported using high-yield hybrid seeds, capable of doubling or even tripling production per manzana (approximately 1.7 acres) under certain conditions.
As part of the strategy to ensure supply, the Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería (MAG), is also working with the private sector on an import schedule. According to the official, this coordination aims to complement the national supply to maintain price stability and, at the same time, strengthen the country’s strategic reserves against any eventuality.
The vice minister stated that there is currently sufficient availability of both domestic production and imported products, thus rejecting arguments that attribute recent price increases to a supposed shortage stemming from the drought. He indicated that part of the previous national harvest is still being sold and that the supply remains stable.
He called on the public to report any potential abuses or unjustified price increases for staple grains. Complaints can be made through the Defensoría del Consumidor, by dialing 910, or to the MAG at 912, providing information that allows for verification of each case.
Domínguez also warned merchants who may be withholding product with the expectation of selling it at higher prices in the future. He affirmed that the country has sufficient domestic production, scheduled imports, and reserves to guarantee the supply of corn and beans.
Finally, he reiterated that the government is maintaining actions aimed at ensuring the supply of these staple grains and protecting the economy of salvadoran families, while also urging the public to report any speculative practices that affect food prices.
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