The Ministry of Agriculture (SAGARPA) has conducted research, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health, into viable substitution strategies for tobacco farmers in the tobacco growing states of Chiapas, Nayarit and Veracruz. Tomato, green chilli pepper, papaya, corn, sorghum and rice have been identified as alternative crops. In 2009, SAGARPA helped finance the conversion of 1,900 ha of tobacco-cultivated land, and since 2010, a special fund (350 million Mexican pesos) in the SAGARPA household budget has been dedicated to this purpose. The state of Nayarit is using the funds to help tobacco and sugar cane growers switch to yellow corn. 3 million farming families are to benefit from the programme.
Alternatives