Maya Farmers Demand Clarity as Collection Centers Remain Stalled

Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Quintana Roo — The construction of collection centers intended to boost the trade of products from Maya farmers from Tihosuco to Chumpón has been halted.

In April 2025, farmers from Tihosuco witnessed the laying of the first stone for a collection center to market their pitahaya, pineapple, and achiote productions at fair prices. However, in July of the same year, the work was suspended by the Directorate of Urban Development and Ecology due to lack of construction permits.

Six months after the work was stopped, no authority or social oversight committee has announced whether the construction will be followed up, while more than 400 producers fear the project will become a white elephant.

The farmers managed to secure the collection center from the state government to meet buyer demand and, in turn, obtain better profits, as they currently produce pitahaya, pineapple, and achiote.

The Mexican government’s Sembrando Vida program has helped strengthen the countryside, and therefore there are timber and fruit forest resources. However, there is still uncertainty in the value chains.

In addition to Tihosuco, it was also announced that a supply center will be built in Chunya, which will allow the marketing of products from the communities of Sahacabchen, Chumpón, Chun On, Yo’odzono’ot, San Antonio San Hipólito, where lemons, citrus fruits, and all the crops that farmers in this area of the Chunes and Tihosuco have can be sold.