Livestock farmers in Aguascalientes, Mexico, are struggling to meet government requirements for digital registration through the REMU guide [1].
The mandate creates a critical barrier for rural producers who lack the necessary infrastructure to comply. Because the government requires digital filings for livestock control and registration, farmers without technology are effectively locked out of the formal economy.
Approximately 500 families are affected by these requirements [1]. Many of these producers operate farms that lack both computers and reliable internet connectivity, making the digital-only process impossible to complete from their place of work [1].
The disconnect between policy and infrastructure has led to severe financial strain. Affected farmers report an estimated 70% loss in economic mobility [2]. This loss stems from the inability to complete the mandatory REMU guide, which is essential for the legal movement and registration of livestock [1].
The government introduced the REMU digital guide to modernize the registration and control of livestock [1]. However, the rollout did not account for the digital divide present in rural areas of the state. Farmers are now caught between legal requirements and a lack of basic technological tools.
Local producers said the requirements are unrealistic given the current state of rural infrastructure [1]. Without a transition period or physical alternatives to the digital guide, these families face continued economic decline as they struggle to maintain their livelihoods within a digitized regulatory framework [1].
“Approximately 500 families are affected by these requirements.”
This situation highlights the 'digital divide' in rural governance, where the transition to e-government services can inadvertently marginalize the populations they are meant to regulate. By mandating digital compliance without providing the necessary infrastructure or alternative filing methods, the state risks creating an economic bottleneck that penalizes small-scale producers and disrupts the local agricultural supply chain.
