Maize seed businesses in Mexico

This research examines maize SMEs in Mexico that participated in MasAgro, and their capacity to produce new maize hybrids and commercialize these hybrids in a competitive seed market. For this research, 22 companies located in different regions of Mexico were interviewed. The sample included different sizes of companies to obtain a greater variation in the information collected. Data were collected onsite from in-depth interviews with enterprise owners and managers and complemented with other primary and secondary sources. The question questionnaire sought insights into strategic alliances with retailers and other maize SMEs, as well as access to external services, both financial and non-fnancial, from commercial providers (banks, consultants), government agencies, NGOs, and others, including MasAgro. The survey sought insights into absorptive capacity as related to seed production (e.g., launching of new commercial products and sources of cultivars), as well as in marketing and management (e.g. marketing strategies and tactics employed, pricing strategies, market information sources). The survey concluded with interviewees providing their perspectives on critical limitations faced for the production and marketing of hybrid maize seed. Results highlighted the critical role of MasAgro in reinvigorating the portfolios of seeds produced by maize SMEs, as well as the challenges ahead for maize SMEs to scale the new technologies in a competitive market that has long been dominated by multinational seed enterprises. Among these challenges were limited investment in seed marketing, weak infrastructure for seed production, and limited experience in business management.