Ejido

Ejido refers to a unit of land used in Mexico and some other Latin American countries that is collectively owned by a rural community and allocated for use by its members, the ejidatarios. The land is owned by the community or, historically, by the state on behalf of the community, and is held in trust to be used for agriculture and other permitted activities. Individuals receive usufruct rights to specific parcels within the ejido to cultivate, manage, and benefit from the land.

Ejidos are typically organized through local assemblies and governing bodies that decide on land allocation, use, and compliance with laws. Members have the right to work and improve a parcel, pass usufruct rights to descendants, and lease or exchange land under community and state regulations. The sale of ejido land to non-members was traditionally restricted; reforms enacted in 1992 allowed the conversion of use rights into private property and, with conditions, transfer or sale of parcels to Mexican nationals.

Historically, the ejido system emerged as part of Mexico’s agrarian reform following the Mexican Revolution. The 1917 Constitution recognized communal landholding (ejidos) as a legitimate form of property and restricted private ownership of rural lands. The system expanded and persisted through the mid-20th century, shaping rural tenure and development, though it was later reformed to modernize land tenure and integrate farmers into broader markets.

Today, thousands of ejidos remain in rural Mexico, with some having privatized parcels while others retain predominantly communal arrangements. The ejido remains a central feature of land tenure, rural livelihoods, and agricultural policy, reflecting ongoing debates about land reform, development, and market integration.