El Salvador is reinforcing its strategy to achieve food sovereignty as the government of President Nayib Bukele moves forward with a large-scale plan to expand national corn production. Vice Minister of Agriculture Óscar Domínguez confirmed the official planting of more than 17,270 acres of corn under the Production Increase Program (PAP), developed in partnership with organized producers and supported by environmentally friendly machinery. “Cooperatives, associations, and producer groups witnessed the machinery, the drones, and the quality of the seed we are using, including ecological tractor systems that drastically reduce polluting emissions,” Domínguez said.

The program relies on advanced agricultural technology to break away from traditional, low-efficiency farming models. It includes high-yield non-GMO hybrid seeds, specialized technical assistance, DJI T100 drones, and satellite monitoring supported by Google. Domínguez explained that production inputs supplied at cost are cutting expenses by nearly half per acre, while the government aims to triple the national average yield.

A central pillar of the plan is to ensure that producers benefit directly from their harvests. The initiative guarantees direct commercialization without intermediaries, a system that previously caused losses for farmers. “We also ensure direct marketing without middlemen, so producers receive better incomes and consumers have access to fair prices,” the official stated.

The Production Increase Program also includes fruits, vegetables, and staple grains such as beans and corn, with plans to expand to additional products that are most consumed in El Salvador. “We will continue to grow this program hand in hand with our farmers,” Domínguez added.

In parallel, El Salvador is promoting lower food prices through direct supplier access. The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock recently held the first Meat Festival at the Central de Abastos in Soyapango, offering Salvadoran, Paraguayan, and Argentine beef cuts at competitive prices for supermarkets, retailers, and food businesses. National beef cuts ranged from $1 to $6 per pound, while international cuts were also offered at affordable prices. Fernando Arriola, president of Carnes Paraguay, welcomed the initiative, stating “Thank you to the Ministry of Agriculture and to the Soyapango Central Market for making this possible.”