Analysis of the impact of the Sembrando Vida program in agricultural production in Mexico

Resumen

Objective: To determine the impact of the Sembrando Vida program on corn and bean production in the eight states where the program began to be implemented.

Design/methodology/approach: A total of 64 structural analysis tests were carried out with dichotomous variables (using control variables) to determine the impact of the Sembrando Vida program on corn and bean production in Puebla, Durango, Veracruz, Tabasco, Chiapas, Campeche, Quintana Roo and Yucatán, in the years 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022. This type of test allows determining whether a variable changed its trend or its intercept or both, due to an event.

Results: The Sembrando Vida program has not been successful in impacting corn production in seven of the eight states examined and, in the case of beans, it did not impact in six of the eight states analyzed. The exception in corn was the state of Quintana Roo in 2022; and, in the case of beans, it was Quintana Roo in 2019 and 2022 and Durango in 2019, 2021 and 2022.

Limitations on study/implications: Fruit trees were not examined; each state was not characterized; and the states to which the program was expanded were not analyzed.

Findings/conclusions: The objective of the study was achieved because it was determined that, in general, the Sembrando Vida program did not impact the production of corn and beans (with exceptions); and that it is necessary to restructure government programs so that they have a greater effect.