Interview: Manuel de Jesús García López – CEO of the Confederation of Agricultural Associations of the State of Sinaloa.

Originally from Culiacán, Sinaloa; Chemical Engineer by profession, graduate of the Master’s Degree in Operations Research from the National Autonomous University of Mexico, as well as the Masters in Planning from the International Institute of Public Administration in Paris, France.

With extensive experience in the sector, Mr. Manuel Garcia takes over the Directorate of the Confederation of Agricultural Associations of the State of Sinaloa, the most important agricultural organization at the state level.

  1. Could you share some of your professional experience?

I started in the area of ​​Chemical Engineering, working for Monsanto, in the styrene polymerization department.

After this I joined the Cervecería Moctezuma, where I had the opportunity to collaborate in the first implementation of the cost control system. During the time that I dedicated myself to study the postgraduate, I worked in the academy, precisely in the Division of Higher Studies of the Faculty of Engineering of the UNAM.

We know that in Sinaloa practically everything revolves around agriculture and since I returned all my work has been related to the sector.

At first, I had the opportunity to work in the Culiacan Farmers’ Association as Manager, later I was as Director of CAADES and in the Ministry of Agriculture of the State Government; Later I worked in the National Association of Manufacturers of Edible Oils and Mantecas (ANIAME).

Today I am again in the Directorate of CAADES.

  1. How was CAADES born?

This body arises when promulgating the Law of Agricultural Associations of the State of Sinaloa, stipulated in November of 1932, that to date also governs the legal life of the 10 different associations that revolve around CAADES.

  1. In what way did CAADES participate in the history of agriculture in Sinaloa?

The participation of the CAADES has always been to accompany the public policies of the Government, at both the Federal and State levels.

 

During the history of the vegetable sector, CAADES has played a preponderant role in the management of new marketing channels with the United States; Has also represented the horticultural sector before this market, promoting public policies.

For example, in the case of the suspension of dumping where CAADES, through the Commission for Research and Defense of Vegetables (IACHR) has played a fundamental role, managing and representing the producers before the Government of Mexico and the United States.

  1. What do you consider to be the main challenges facing agriculture today?

When talking about challenges we can not do it in a general way since there are different areas in agriculture such as vegetables, grains, etc., and each face different challenges.

In relation to vegetables, the most important challenges are in the first instance with competitiveness, particularly in comparison to the different producers of the autumn-winter season, such as the case of Florida and producers in other regions of Mexico.

And maintaining this level of competitiveness implies, among other things, adapting to the different technological advances, as is the case of the conversion of agriculture open to protected agriculture.

Another aspect that must be fulfilled in order to remain competitive is the compliance with the different requirements of national and international markets as envisaged by the Eleven Rivers program.

Meeting the highest standards of food safety, social and environmental responsibility, and quality, among other factors, will allow producers to remain in place in the consumer preference.

  1. Could you share some of the future projects of CAADES?

In the area of ​​vegetables, CAADES, in relation to the aforementioned, aims to adapt the levels of competitiveness according to international requirements with the help of Eleven Rivers, which is a long-term project.

Likewise, it seeks to maintain all the defense structures in force for the fruit and vegetable producers of Sinaloa.

In the case of grains, it is sought to focus on the challenges related to public policies that have to do with the compensation of certain asymmetries that give certainty in the long term.

On the other hand, through instruments like the Foundation Produce Sinaloa AC, the diffusion of technology is promoted that allows to reduce costs and to produce in a sustainable way giving a greater profitability to the producer.

“Meeting the highest standards of safety, social and environmental responsibility and quality, among other factors, will allow producers to remain in place in the consumer preference.”

  1. What scenario do you envisage for Sinaloan horticultural exports?

Sinaloa is a state with a high productive value both in vegetables and fruits such as mango, citrus and has already begun with the production of blueberry and I consider that complying with all the requirements that are demanding the international markets we can speak of an encouraging panorama.

Importantly, with the North American Free Trade Agreement, the horticultural sector has had advantages.

When analyzing the growth rates of horticultural exports, we can realize that they are 2-digit rates, increasing not just in Sinaloa but throughout Mexico, since different states such as Guanajuato, Jalisco and Michoacán have also taken part in fruit exports and vegetables, which increases not only internationally but also internally.

  1. Anything else you want to add?

I think we can conclude that agriculture is an activity of vital importance for the human being.

The production of food, unlike other sectors, is an activity to which different international organizations pay close attention and as a consequence the demands increase day by day in order to meet the requirements that arise from the growth of the population.

That is why the public policies related to the agro-food sector of most developed countries are constantly updated as this activity is not only considered important but strategic in national development.