Farmer cooperatives supply El Salvador with seed

Nathan Weller of EcoViva penned an op-ed entitled Farmer Cooperatives, Not Monsanto, Supply El Salvador With Seed. Weller argues that recent changes to how the Salvadoran government procures seeds for its national Family Agriculture Program has been a win-win all around for Salvadorans.

In 2015, rural cooperatives and national associations will produce nearly 50% of the government’s corn seed supply, with 8% coming from native seed—a record high. In the Lower Lempa, where seven farmer organizations have produced corn seed since 2012, this means over 4,000 jobs and income for rural households, primarily employing women and young adults. The public procurement of seed—or the government’s purchasing power through contracts—signifies over $25 million for a rural economy still struggling to diversify and gain traction.

The success of locally-bred seed varieties, compounded with their low production costs, allowed the Family Agriculture Program to contribute to historically high yields nationwide for corn and beans. Last year, more farmers produced more corn and beans at the most efficient yield per acreage than any other year over the last decade. This has also led to a significant adjustment in El Salvador’s trade balance on corn: Imports of white corn in 2014 were a full 94% less than 2011.

If Salvadoran producers can provide better seeds at a lower cost, that's great. That's what competition and capitalism is all about. The US government just wanted its corporations given a fair shake under CAFTA-DR, which now seems to be the case.

FWIW, I did a little consulting work connected to Eco Viva a few years ago.