On the occasion of the International Day of Peasant Struggles, La Cloc – Vía Campesina El Salvador has issued a stark warning about the looming food crisis in the country. The organization, which represents a diverse coalition of rural populations including peasants, farmers, landless individuals, Indigenous communities, and rural youth, highlights the growing neglect of agriculture by the Salvadoran government as a key driver of the crisis.
Between the 2019–2020 and 2022–2023 agricultural cycles, El Salvador’s agricultural production experienced a steep decline. The country saw a significant loss of planted areas and crop yields, particularly in staples like corn, beans, and sorghum. The loss of over a thousand manzanas of corn resulted in a drop of more than 150,000 quintals in yield, while nearly 12,000 manzanas of beans were lost, equating to over 200,000 quintals. Other crops like rice, vegetables, fruits, and coffee also suffered severe reductions. These losses have left the country vulnerable to a potential food crisis, directly threatening national food security.
This decline in agricultural production has been accompanied by a troubling rise in rural unemployment. Over 60,000 jobs were lost in agriculture, livestock, forestry, and fishing between 2019 and 2023, exacerbating poverty and insecurity in rural communities. Specifically, nearly 50,000 jobs disappeared in agriculture alone, leaving many families without stable livelihoods and deepening rural poverty.
One of the critical factors contributing to this crisis is the dramatic reduction in access to credit for farmers. Between 2019 and 2023, agricultural and livestock input costs surged while credit availability dropped by a staggering 79%. Agricultural credit fell from $60.3 million to just $12.7 million, while the vast majority of national bank credit (98%) was directed towards consumption, commerce, industry, and construction, leaving farmers with inadequate financial support. This lack of credit has made it increasingly difficult for farmers to maintain or expand their production.
Compounding the situation, agricultural imports have increased dramatically, further undermining national agricultural producers and increasing dependency on foreign food. Between 2019 and 2023, the value of agricultural imports rose by 37%, from $591 million to $811 million, while the volume of imports increased by 13%. This rise in imports exacerbates the struggles of local farmers, contributing to the growing imbalance in the country’s agricultural sector.
The deteriorating agricultural situation has had a direct impact on rural living conditions. The percentage of poor households in rural areas grew from 24.8% in 2019 to 28.3% in 2023. More alarmingly, the percentage of households unable to meet basic food needs more than doubled, rising from 5.2% to 11.1% in just four years.
Looking ahead to the 2025–2026 agricultural season, the outlook remains bleak. Continued government neglect, combined with the worsening effects of climate change, threatens to affect up to 40% of corn and bean-producing areas. It is projected that the country could lose up to 6 million quintals of corn and 800,000 quintals of beans, potentially impacting 100,000 farmers and damaging over 160,000 manzanas of crops.
In response to this dire situation, La Cloc – Vía Campesina El Salvador is calling for immediate and decisive action. They demand the creation of a $100 million land fund to support 200,000 subsistence farmers who currently rent land. They also urge the government to require private banks to allocate at least 15% of their credit to agriculture, with special provisions for training, insurance, and simplified access, particularly for women farmers. The agricultural bonus program must be reformed to prioritize sustainability and climate resilience, and greater support for local markets and farmers’ markets must be established to help small-scale farmers reach consumers directly.
To address immediate threats, the government should launch an emergency phytosanitary program to control the screwworm outbreak and implement initiatives to improve water harvesting and build reservoirs for agriculture. Additionally, the government must reverse controversial policies, such as the Technical Regulation on Biosafety of Living Modified Organisms, which threatens native biodiversity. The approval of a Food Sovereignty and Security Law and the establishment of a national seed bank are also crucial steps to protect the future of agriculture in El Salvador. Finally, action must be taken to prevent the displacement of small farmers by large capital interests and protect cooperative farming.
