What is an Ejido?

An ejido is a community made up of members, also known as ejiditarios that have the right to use a defined parcel of social property, which is commonly referred to as ejido land. Most ejidos are small farming communities with less than a few hundred members and are governed almost like a corporation.

The ultimate authority is the General Assembly, known as "La Asamblea". Then, as in a corporation, there is a Board of Directors, known as the "Comisariado Ejidal", and a vigilance authority "Consejo de Vigilancia".

The General Assembly approves ejido bylaws, accepts new Ejido members, approves business dealings with non-ejido members , and elects the Board of Directors and the Vigilance Authority. The Board of Directors is in charge of administration, and also represents the ejido in official business matters.

HISTORY - Ejidos are a product of the Mexican Revolution. Before the revolution, 1% of the population held title to 97% of the land, while 96% of the population owned nothing. Article 27 of the Mexican constitution was written to correct this inequity by declaring all land property of the nation, and to establish a social property sector.