MEXICO / MIGRANT RETURNEES

A FAO-supported project was rolled out in poor rural areas in Oaxaca and Chiapas states. The two states have some of the highest rates of migration, with people migrating for work to the US or within Mexico. FAO

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:01:52
• Production Date: 20 October 2017
• Asset Language: Spanish
• Corporate Name: FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION - FAO
• Subject Topical: FARMING; MIGRATION
• Geographic Subject: MEXICO; UNITED STATES
• MAMS Id: 2009623
• Parent Id: 2009623
• Alternate Title: unifeed171020d

Description

STORY: MEXICO / MIGRANT RETURNEES
TRT: 01:55
SOURCE: FAO
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: SPANISH / NATS

DATELINE: JULY 2017, CHIAPAS STATE, MEXICO

Shotlist

1. Tracking shot, Paseano Gómez López walking in the field
2. Various shots, Paseano Gómez López removing weeds to prepare the land for farming
3. Wide shot, field
4. Various shots, chili peppers
5. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Paseano Gómez López, Returned Farmer:
“The situation is very difficult because of the poverty faced here in this country, in Mexico.”
6. Various shots, Paseano Gómez López preparing herbicides
7. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Paseano Gómez López, Returned Farmer:
“That's when you think about migrating to improve your life.”
8. Wide shot, Paseano Gómez López walking
9. Wide shot, Paseano Gómez López removing weeds in the field
10. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Paseano Gómez López, Returned Farmer:
“But you feel sad when you are away from home. You feel far away from your family.”
11. Various shots, Paseano Gómez López and his sheep
12 SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Paseano Gómez López, Returned Farmer:
“Now, I can stay here to take care of my plants because of the support I got. I have everything here, and I can save some money.”
13. Various shots, honey production

Storyline

Chiapas state in Mexico has some of the highest migration rates in the country, with people relocating to cities within Mexico or the US in search of a better life.

Paseano Gómez López is a farmer from Nuevo Sonora, Chiapas state, Mexico who returned home and needed support to be able to stay.

He grows corn and chili peppers.

But to cultivate their fields, farmers need money to buy supplies.

Often, they are forced to take a loan, with a 10-20 percent interest. Sometimes, the yields don’t cover the costs and farmers get in debt. They are also battling with poor soil and high altitudes; it’s difficult to grow crops.

“That's when you think about migrating - to improve your life, to send your children to school,” explains Paseano. “The situation is very difficult because of the poverty that it’s here in this country.”

And this is why Paseano decided to leave. He went to Virginia and Florida where he worked for 10 months – picking tomatoes, grapes.

He said “there is sadness when you are away. You feel far away from your family. I worried about my family – about my wife, my children.”

Paesano got paid 500 US dollars per week, and would send about 350-400 US dollars home.

After he returned, Paseano became involved in a FAO-supported project. The aim of the project is simple: make farmers’ lives better. Help them find ways to sustain themselves from agriculture and off-farming opportunities.

He said “now, I can stay here to take care of my plants because of the support I got. I have everything here, and I can save some money.”

The FAO-supported project was rolled out in Oaxaca and Chiapas states, in poor rural areas. The two states have some of the highest rates of migration, with people migrating for work to the US or within Mexico.

As part of the project, farmers learnt how to use compost to improve soil fertility; received training in honey production, raising livestock, and setting up greenhouses. They now also have access to water to irrigate their crops.

The project was made possible thanks to the support of the Mexican Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture.