El Salvador is strengthening its food security strategy by increasing domestic corn and bean production, expanding agricultural productivity, and coordinating imports to guarantee supply and protect consumers from unjustified price increases.
A recent study by CID Gallup estimates that Salvadoran households consume approximately 9.79 million quintals of corn and 1.60 million quintals of beans annually, providing updated data for agricultural planning and national food-supply decisions.
According to Óscar Domínguez, the findings have helped align the country’s production strategy with actual consumption patterns. The government’s Production Enhancement Program is targeting annual output of up to 12 million quintals of corn and 1.9 million quintals of beans, with production supported by early planting in areas with higher rainfall and complementary irrigation systems.
Productivity is also becoming a central component of the strategy. The adoption of high-yield hybrid seeds can double or, under certain conditions, triple average production per manzana, increasing output without relying solely on expanding cultivated land.
For the coming year, authorities project an additional 2 to 3 million quintals of corn and approximately 700,000 quintals of beans compared with planned production levels.
El Salvador is also working with the private sector to coordinate imports. The approach seeks to maintain a complementary supply that supports price stability while preserving strategic reserves that can be deployed if unexpected disruptions affect the market.
Authorities have emphasized that domestic harvests, scheduled imports, and reserves provide sufficient availability of the two staple grains for this year and next. Consumers have also been encouraged to report unjustified price increases to the Consumer Protection Agency or through the designated agricultural reporting channels.
The strategy reflects a broader effort to strengthen food security in El Salvador, improve agricultural productivity, protect household purchasing power, and ensure that the country can meet demand for corn and beans for human consumption, animal feed, and other uses.