Mexico

Country Context

Mexico boasts a rich cultural history, diverse natural resources and a strong agricultural heritage. Yet in many rural areas — particularly in the south and southeast — poverty and food insecurity remain deeply entrenched, especially among Indigenous communities. These regions face some of the highest poverty rates in the country, with national survey data showing that about 70 percent of Indigenous people in Mexico live in poverty.

Climate change, organized crime, inadequate infrastructure and limited access to finance place additional strains on the agriculture sector, affecting productivity and long-term viability. A few vocational opportunities outside of farming also drive migration from rural areas. Small-scale agriculture remains a primary source of income and food security for millions of families. Strengthening smallholder farmers’ livelihoods and connecting producers to stable, inclusive markets are critical steps toward reducing poverty and improving household well-being in rural Mexico.

Our Response

Heifer Mexico increases the income and resilience of smallholder farming families by focusing on sustainability and inclusion. Through building alliances, mobilizing capital and providing training and support, we amplify the quantity and quality of goods produced and increase producers’ competitiveness in local markets.

Our programs teach eco-friendly farming techniques for climate change adaptation and support income diversification through various value chains. At the same time, we help expand rural women’s participation and leadership, solidify small enterprises and foster partnerships with various organizations to reinforce locally led solutions and sustainable community development. These combined efforts ensure smallholder farmers achieve long-term success and improve their quality of life.

Our primary objective is helping families achieve a sustainable living income, our measure for the amount of money required for a decent life — including safe shelter, nutritious food, clothing, education and health care — while also reaching additional benchmarks for economic and climate resilience.

The Mexico Signature Programs

Heifer International’s work is organized at the country level into signature programs focused on large-scale, measurable and sustainable impact achieved by building partnerships at all levels. Each program supports farmers through time-bound projects designed to increase their household income.

Promesa Café y Cacao

The Promesa Café y Cacao signature program is dedicated to improving the lives and livelihood sustainability of smallholder coffee and cacao farmers in Chiapas, Veracruz, Puebla and Oaxaca. The program improves productivity, adds value to the supply chain and facilitates better market access, all while encouraging women’s participation and technical skill development. Through inclusive market systems and strategic partnerships, these value chains become more resilient and profitable for smallholder farmers.

Rural Roots

The Rural Roots signature program aims to help 80,000 rural families reach a sustainable living income by 2030. The program strengthens the self-management of organizations, rural agribusinesses and institutions, particularly those led by women and youth. It also makes market systems more inclusive and increases access to natural resources to benefit smallholder farmers and rural communities.