Linking Social Protection and Agricultural Production: The Case of Mexico

Abstract

The current discussions about how to tackle hunger in developing countries highlight the adoption of a two-track approach as an effective framework (FAO, 2011). This strategy uses a combination of providing immediate emergency access to food for the poor people while and supporting a sustainable rural development path as a long-term solution. Immediate assistance for access to food is being sought through social protection policies such as cash transfer schemes and in-kind subsidies. Likewise, support for agricultural prices and transfers aim to increase the availability and production of domestic agricultural products. However, the long-term approach to promoting sustainable development has yet to be realised or well defined. A sustainable development path should link social protection with support for smallholder production that has a two-fold effect in alleviating rural poverty and promoting stable food security. (…)