El Salvador’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) has allocated $52.9 million in its 2026 draft budget to coordinate agro-markets and supply centers across the country, aiming to strengthen food security and rural development.

According to the proposal under review by the Legislative Assembly, the funds will support the efficient operation of agro-markets, central supply hubs, and strategic market networks that promote sustainable agricultural and forestry development. The initiative represents a shift from the 2025 budget, which dedicated $23 million to agricultural input packages for grain production.

The new allocation also includes resources to maintain a strategic agricultural reserve and improve the logistical and commercial connectivity of national production. In July, legislators approved an additional $20 million for MAG to open new agro-markets and a central supply hub in Usulután.

Deputy Minister Óscar Domínguez explained that agro-markets serve between 500 and 1,200 people daily, with an average wait time of 15 to 20 minutes. “These spaces allow Salvadorans to access quality products at fair prices, while supporting local producers,” he said.

MAG currently operates over 60 agro-markets nationwide, offering fruits, vegetables, dairy, and meats. Two central supply centers are in operation—one in Soyapango and another in Usulután.

The draft budget also assigns $4 million to the Salvadoran Coffee Institute to strengthen national coffee policy and reforest coffee-growing areas, plus $10 million for the Coffee Forest Climate Resilience Program to boost sustainable production amid climate challenges.