September 2, 2009

Mexico may import more corn due to drought

Mexico may have to import another 1.5 million tonnes of corn due to a drought, the agriculture minister said Monday (Aug 31).

The 1.5 million tonnes are to replace the loss, excluding replanting, said Alberto Cardenas Jimenez.

The minister said this July was the worst July in many decades, representing a harsh blow for farmers, though the outlook for the next four months is more positive.

Mexico usually imports about five million tonnes of corn for animal feed consumption each year.

The drought lowered production to about seven million hectares of crops, said Cruz Lopez Aguilar, head of the National Farmers Confederation.

Cardenas has announced a late-planting programme of 320,000 hectares in eight of Mexico's 32 states to make up for the loss, and predictions of more rain in the next weeks could help the programme to succeed.