Why does El Salvador import food despite producing agricultural crops?

Despite its fertile volcanic soil and a history of agricultural production, El Salvador is not self-sufficient in food production and must rely on imports.12

The primary reason for this dependency is the disproportionate distribution of land within the country. The agricultural sector has historically favored the cultivation of commercial export crops—such as coffee, cotton, and sugarcane—over the production of subsistence crops. This land-use imbalance leaves many small farmers landless and unable to grow the food necessary to sustain the local population.1

Consequently, while the country produces significant agricultural goods for export, it must import various foodstuffs to meet domestic demand.13