Sheinbaum Introduces Plan to Relieve Debt for Nearly 60,000 Small Agricultural Producers

Original article: Sheinbaum va al rescate del campo: lanza plan para aliviar deudas de casi 60 mil pequeños productores

In a bid to revitalize the agricultural sector and provide relief to those who have borne the burden of unmanageable debts for years, the President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, unveiled the “Return to Grow” program, which aims to settle or restructure 69,658 loans issued by the National Financial Institution for Agricultural, Fisheries, and Forestry Development (FND), directly benefiting 59,967 small producers across the Latin American country.

“Today we have great news for all debtors of the National Financial Institution: their debts will significantly decrease,” celebrated the leader during her daily press briefing, “Mañaneras del Pueblo.”

The program represents not just financial relief, but a commitment to social justice in agriculture. According to details shared by Mónica Fernández Balboa, General Director of the Institute for Returning Stolen Goods to the People (INDEP), the benefits will be delivered in two phases: starting in May, 13,400 women will be eligible for the program, followed by 46,567 men in June.

The measure differentiates based on debt size to offer tailored solutions: loans under 45,000 Investment Units (UDIS), equivalent to 397,551 Mexican pesos (approximately US$20,000), will be completely settled. This affects 11,761 women and 29,299 small producers.

For larger debts, the Mexican government is providing a 30% discount on the principal and interest. This applies to 1,639 women and 17,268 men whose original loans range from 397,552 pesos to 10 million pesos (US$575,000). Beneficiaries can access a new payment scheme with a fixed rate of 8.5%, over terms ranging from 12 to 36 months, as detailed by María del Carmen Bonilla Rodríguez, Undersecretary of Finance and Public Credit.

She highlighted that this program guarantees that all procedures will be personal, free of charge, and without intermediaries, ensuring transparency and financial viability without the need for budget expansions, as reported by the newspaper La Razón.

Certificates of Clearance and Release of Mortgages

Beneficiaries of the “Return to Grow” program will not only see their debts reduced or eliminated, but will also receive a clearance certificate confirming the absence of debt, the cessation of legal actions, the release of collateral, and the return of valued documents.

In addition, the FND will inform credit information societies—such as the Credit Bureau—of the cancellation of negative records, allowing producers to access bank financing and other financial products once again.

Through this strategy, Sheinbaum’s government aims not only to rescue thousands of rural families trapped in a cycle of debt, but also to inject certainty and liquidity into the agricultural sector.

“99.9 percent of women producers with loans will have their debts settled,” emphasized Fernández Balboa, highlighting the program’s gender focus.

The goal is to heal the finances of Mexico’s agricultural sector not through punishment but by providing a second chance to reactivate production and rebuild trust between those who cultivate the land and harvest food.