Mexico’s agricultural sector is characterised by positive economic growth that is slower than the growth of the wider economy, great disparities in farm types from subsistence to highly commercialised, and inefficient use of some natural resources such as land and water. Economic development in rural areas of Mexico is a critical priority, but also an enduring challenge that has thwarted decades of efforts. Extreme poverty is mainly found in rural areas — a reflection that such areas are disconnected from commodity, financial and labour markets, as well as of low productivity and a lack of public services such as education