More than 2 million acres of irrigated crops could be at risk in Mexico because of a lack of water. Neighboring Sonora is among the worst hit.
A new report from Mexico’s agricultural agency shows that as of the end of March, more than half of the country’s 4.3 million acres of unharvested irrigated crops are at risk of being lost due to water shortages.
Eighty-five percent of the country is currently experiencing drought conditions. And Sonora is among three states at the highest risk of seeing crops destroyed, according to the report.
Agricultural production in 10 Sonoran municipalities is considered highly vulnerable. And dozens of other drought-ridden areas are considered moderately vulnerable to production loss, as the state’s dams sit at less than a third of capacity.
Farmers in highly affected areas including Sonora have been asking the federal government to provide subsidies and other relief, and are hoping for some desperately needed rain during this summer’s monsoons.
