Liconsa's Uncertainty Affects Dairy Producers in Aguascalientes

The dairy sector in Aguascalientes is experiencing a period of financial uncertainty due to unclear operations from Liconsa, the primary purchaser of raw milk under a guaranteed price scheme. This uncertainty has become a concern for primary producers who rely on the parastatal to ensure a stable and profitable sale of a significant portion of their milk volume. Analysts in the agro-industrial sector indicate that the lack of official communication from Liconsa creates a high-risk environment for the economic planning of dairy farms.

The main concern is a potential budget cut or suspension of purchases at the end of the fiscal year, which, if realized, would force farmers to quickly seek alternative marketing channels. Historically, the free market or the private industry pays a lower price for raw milk than Liconsa, negatively impacting the liquidity and profit margins of producers. The sector's dependence on state purchases underscores its vulnerability to public and budgetary policy fluctuations.

Farmers have expressed that this uncertainty about the fate of their milk production forces them to operate without a solid basis for cost calculation, with livestock feed and staff payments being the main affected variables. The producer families fear that the lack of a secure buyer in a month of high volatility, such as December, could lead to significant losses that compromise the investment and maintenance of their dairy herds for the next cycle.

The Local Livestock Association Specializing in Milk Production (AGLEP) has urged Liconsa and federal authorities to issue an official statement guaranteeing the continuation of milk purchases under the agreed guaranteed price. Certainty is a non-negotiable input for the agro-industry, and its absence paralyses the investment capacity in technology and genetics necessary to enhance the competitiveness of the dairy basin in Aguascalientes.