NAFTA Affects Mexico's Food Sovereignty

Mexico, Aug 16 (Prensa Latina) The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has resulted in Mexico losing its food sovereignty and increased poverty, experts warned in this capital.

Researchers from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and the National Institute for Forestry, Agricultural and Livestock Research warned against an increase in Mexico's food dependence and a reduction in the country's agricultural area as a result of the NAFTA.

Horacio Catalan, a professor from UNAM's Economics Faculty, urged to change the agricultural model that encourages imports in detriment of national farmers, especially cereal and oleaginous plant growers.

According to Victor Quintana, a congressman from the northern state of Chihuahua, the government's agricultural policy worsens the vulnerability of Mexican farmers and drains the country's economic resources.

Food imports, he added, account for more than 50 percent of profits from oil exports and 72 percent of money remittances.

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