The Mexican maize panorama: Socio-economic study of agricultural productivity and import dependency.

This article analyzes the Mexican maize economy by examining national maize production and trade dynamics with the USA, focusing on the interplay between agroindustrial performance and socio-economic development. It finds that Mexico's domestic maize production primarily centers on white maize grown under traditional, rainfed systems in less developed southern states, while yellow maize demand for industrial uses is largely met through imports from the USA. Despite modernization programs like MasAgro showing technical promise, cultural resistance and limited market access have constrained their impact on small-scale farmers. The study highlights Mexico's growing dependence on imported maize due to higher domestic prices and inefficient farming practices, emphasizing potential risks from trade disruptions and the need for targeted support to improve productivity and resilience in traditional maize farming communities.