
Protest at Airport by Farmers Demanding Fair Crop Prices
- foodfightadmin
- June 17, 2023
- Agriculture
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In Culiacan, a city in northern Mexico, farmers initiated a takeover of the local airport to protest against low corn and wheat crop prices. This blockade, which started on Tuesday in Sinaloa state and led to the cancellation of numerous flights, ended on Thursday. However, the event escalated when Sinaloa Governor Ruben Rocha urged the protesting farmers to shift their focus from the airport to U.S.-based agricultural giant Cargill’s warehouses and offices.
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, on Thursday, stated his decision not to intervene in the dispute, despite the airport’s operations being halted since Tuesday. He criticized large-scale farmers for exploiting subsidies meant for smaller farmers and hinted at political motivations behind the protests.
Governor Rocha, in a controversial move, encouraged the protesters to target the warehouses of major industrial groups like Gruma and Minsa, two prominent Mexican flour producers. His suggestion to “take over the warehouses of the big industrial groups” drew sharp criticism from Larry Ruben, head of the American Society in Mexico, an expatriate group. Ruben condemned the governor’s remarks as “highly irresponsible” and a call for criminal activity.
Cargill, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, has yet to respond to these developments. As the situation evolved, the airport in Sinaloa reopened on Thursday afternoon following the protesters’ agreement to engage in discussions. This incident adds to the ongoing scrutiny of López Obrador’s administration, which has previously faced criticism for seizing property from private and foreign companies.