Overview
- State riot police dispersed bean producers gathered near Zacatecas’ Multiforo during a Mother's Day concert event, and multiple protesters and supporters, including university students and women, were detained.
- Farmers have kept sit-ins at the state Congress and outside the government palace after talks with federal and state agriculture officials collapsed when the local program lead said the buying scheme had closed.
- Alimentación para el Bienestar reaffirmed a new bean purchase rate of 16,000 pesos per ton based on a May 1 rule change, and it reported earlier purchases for 441 producers totaling about 1,950 tons at the prior 27,000 pesos per ton rate.
- Movement leaders warned they could block the Zacatecas airport, rail lines, roads, and public buildings if their demand to buy 1,500 tons at 27 pesos per kilo and the removal of the local program chief are not met, and unions and civic groups announced a megamarch in support.
- Zacatecas is Mexico’s top bean producer, and farmers allege intermediaries captured most of the 96,000 tons first authorized for purchase, while authorities cite budget rules and expanded producer lists as constraints.