Authorities are investigating the loss of over 100,000 sacks of grains in Honduras, while former officials of the IHMA (Honduran Institute of Marketing Agriculture) are denying any irregularities.

The authorities claim that the Honduran Institute of Agricultural Marketing (IHMA) maintains coordination with producers and supply chains to protect the national supply of basic grains in Honduras. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko. The controversy surrounding the management of strategic grain reserves in Honduras intensified on Monday, after the director of the Honduran Institute of Agricultural Marketing (IHMA), Allan Castillo, appeared before the Special Fiscal Unit Against Corruption Networks (UFERCO) to provide statements related to the loss of tens of thousands of sacks of corn and beans stored by the state institution. The appearance occurs amid questions about the state of the food reserves managed by the IHMA, an entity responsible for ensuring the strategic supply of basic products in Honduras, especially during periods of scarcity or price increases. Upon leaving UFERCO, Castillo stated that his administration is fully cooperating with the Public Prosecutor's Office and detailed the delivery of documentation related to internal audits initiated after he took office on January 27. "Our mission began on January 27, so we are not responsible for any irregularities or potential corruption. We are here to collaborate in whatever is necessary," the official said. He explained that part of the documentation delivered by the previous administration has served as a basis for advancing investigations into the reported losses within the basic grain inventories. One of the most delicate aspects of the case is the condition of the stored products. Castillo confirmed that a significant portion of the grains are no longer suitable for human consumption, a situation that is currently being analyzed by specialists from the Pan American Agricultural School of Zamorano. Agricultural producers are demanding an investigation into the management of the stored grain. (PHOTO: IHMA) The academic institution is working on a scientific report based on samples taken from the investigated batches; the director of the IHMA indicated that, preliminarily, the corn and beans evaluated have conditions that would prevent their distribution for consumption. The investigations include approximately 70,000 sacks of corn and 44,000 sacks of beans, quantities that are part of the losses detected within the strategic reserves managed by the State. Despite the impact of the case, the current authorities of the IHMA attempted to convey a message of reassurance regarding the national supply of basic grains. Castillo stated that the institution maintains coordination with producers and supply chains to avoid disruptions in the national market and to guarantee the country's strategic food reserve. "We are ensuring the strategic reserve," the official said, adding that preventive measures have been taken to avoid shortages while the judicial investigations are underway. The statements of the new authorities were quickly questioned by the former director of the IHMA, Omar González, who publicly rejected the accusations related to the alleged deterioration of the stored grains during his tenure. González described as inconsistent the version that 44,000 sacks of beans are completely expired or unusable, arguing that basic grains do not have an immediate expiration date under adequate storage conditions and phytosanitary controls. The former official defended the procedures implemented during his administration and stated that the figures disclosed by the current authorities do not match the inventories officially delivered. "We are surprised that they give a figure of 44,000 sacks when what we delivered were 43,000: 20,000 in Danlí and 23,000 in Tegucigalpa. The doors of the IHMA were always open, nothing was hidden," González said. The case highlights the potential impact on family economies and national food security due to the possible shortages and price increases of basic grains in Honduras. (PHOTO: STN Honduras) His statements open a new chapter in the public dispute over the management of state food reserves, while the authorities continue to collect documentation and technical results that will determine whether there were administrative negligence, improper storage practices, or possible acts of corruption. The investigation takes place in a particularly sensitive context for Honduras, where the behavior of basic grain prices has a strong impact on family economies and the levels of food security of the population. Corn and beans are an essential part of the Honduran diet, and any disruption to the strategic reserves raises concerns about the supply and price stability in the local market. While UFERCO continues the investigations and the technical results prepared by specialists from Zamorano are expected, the authorities must determine whether the losses are due to administrative failures, natural deterioration of the products, or possible criminal liabilities within the management of the IHMA's strategic reserves.