Oaxaca Nears Self-Sufficiency in Corn

ByMexico Solidarity

This article by Luis Ramírez originally appeared in the September 28th, 2025 edition of El Sol de México.

Oaxaca. The state of Oaxaca went from producing around 550,000 tons of corn in 2022 to 770,000 tons in 2024 , an increase of more than 220,000 tons, said Secretary of Agricultural and Rural Development, Víctor López Leyva.

The objective, the official said in a National Corn Day interview with El Sol de México, is to reach the 800,000 tons per year that Oaxaca needs to be self-sufficient in this grain. “Thanks to the efforts of our farmers, we are very close to achieving this goal today. Corn is not just food; it is history, culture, identity, and future,” Victor Lopez Leyva remarked.

He emphasized that Oaxaca is recognized as the center of origin and domestication of corn and recalled that in Unión Zapata, part of the municipality of Villa de Mitla, there are vestiges of teosinte, the ancestor of the grain that over time became the basis of the diet of Mesoamerica and later the world.

Oaxacan territory is home to 35 of the 59 native corn varieties registered in Mexico, making it a true treasure of agricultural biodiversity.

“Corn is the food that Oaxaca gave to Mexico and the world. We are responsible for protecting it, because here lies not only the root, but also the possibility of our food future,” López Leyva emphasized.

Although Oaxaca has not historically been a national leader in production volume, the head of the Secretariat for Agri-Food Development emphasized that there are yields above 12 tons per hectare, comparable to those achieved in the northern states of the country, considered agricultural powerhouses.

To demonstrate this potential, 17 hectares of demonstration land were planted this year with native and improved varieties—all non-GMO —to introduce producers to new ways to strengthen their crops.

The Oaxaca government, led by Salomón Jara Cruz, has promoted programs aimed at ensuring access to corn and strengthening local production. These include Food Self-Sufficiency and Secure Corn Supply , which operate in 245 municipalities with food shortages.

The approach not only seeks to increase production, but also to protect native varieties, reduce food poverty, and keep Oaxaca free of GMOs.

Victor Lopez Leyva said, “Corn is the most widely grown grain in the world, present in more than 170 countries. But in Oaxaca, it means much more: it is the cornerstone of community life, the family economy, festivals, and our cuisine. This wealth is what we are obligated to protect.”

Oaxaca Celebrates National Corn Day

Oaxaca, considered the birthplace of corn , celebrated National Corn Day this Sunday with a grand celebration in the El Tequio Forest , where state authorities, farmers, traditional cooks, technicians and institutions agreed on the importance of protecting and strengthening Mexico’s most representative grain.

At the opening of the event, Governor Salomón Jara Cruz reaffirmed his administration ‘s commitment to the Oaxacan countryside and to those who have dedicated their lives to farming.

In his speech, Jara Cruz noted that the state government maintains a presence in 245 municipalities with food shortages, where programs such as Food Self-Sufficiency and Secure Corn Supply are promoted. Both aim to strengthen local production and conserve native varieties, avoiding the use of genetically modified seeds.

As part of this strategy, the state is working in coordination with the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) to establish the Oaxaca State Seed Bank, which will be located in the Cho Ndobá Oaxaca Spring Park. Its mission will be to safeguard corn diversity and guarantee safe seeds for future generations.

National Corn Day, officially established in 2019 and commemorated every September 29, brought together producers from across the state and traditional cooks in El Tequio who shared the culinary legacy that revolves around the cereal grain.