Agricultural crisis in Oaxaca after the passage of Hurricane Erick
Producers and farmers on the Oaxaca Coast have decided to completely close federal highway 200, which connects with Guerrero, after failing to reach an agreement with the state government. The measure arises as a protest against the insufficient aid received after Category 3 Hurricane Erick devastated more than 6,500 hectares of crops on June 19. Those affected demand the presence of President Claudia Sheinbaum to evaluate the magnitude of the damage.
Frustration due to unsustainable credits and limited support
During a work session on August 14, the producers rejected the government proposal to access credit with unattainable conditions. “We can’t pay life insurance or interest when we lost everything,” declared one of the farmers. In addition, they criticized that the support has been reduced to food supplies and fertilizers, useless without arable land. Joel Silva, affected by Santa María Huazolotitlán, said: “What use are inputs if there is no harvest?”
Víctor López Leyva, head of the Secretariat of Agri-Food Development (Sefader), recognized the seriousness of the losses in papaya, banana, lemon and coconut crops. However, so far only 365 agricultural packages have been distributed in 10 municipalities, with no clarity on their allocation. The farmers highlight that, after Hurricane John in November, they managed to partially recover, but Erick left them “at zero.”
Protest and vulnerability of Afro-Mexican communities
The blockade on Highway 200, between Pinotepa Nacional and Tututepec, reflects the desperation of historically marginalized communities. Many of the affected areas are Afro-Mexican populations, constitutionally recognized in 2020. According to INEGI, Oaxaca is home to 4.7% of this population at the national level. “We are the ones who feed the country, but they ignore us,” said one protester.
The producers insist that their fight is not political, but one of survival: “We do not want conflicts, but without a firm response, we have no alternative.” Meanwhile, the state government has not detailed the terms of the promised credit, which would require covering 90% of an insurance of 300,000 pesos, an impossible burden for those who lost everything.
What’s next? Social pressure increases as hurricane season continues. The economic reactivation of the Coast depends on concrete actions, not promises.
Join the conversation: Share this information to make the crisis in Oaxaca visible and explore more about how to support rural communities in our related news section.
