Drought reduces Mexico’s agricultural production
February 14th, 2012 - 12:01 pm ICT by IANSMexico City, Feb 14 (IANS/EFE) The severe drought affecting 22 of Mexico’s 32 states has caused a 40 percent drop in agricultural production, opening the way for food shortages over the next few months, authorities said.
The assistance promised by President Felipe Calderon’s administration to those affected by the nine-month-old drought is insufficient, said the National Peasants Confederation, or CNC, Mexico’s main peasant organization and an ally of the opposition Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI.
President Felipe Calderon has vowed to do everything within the government’s power to help those suffering from the drought.
Calderon ordered the disbursement last month of 33.82 billion pesos (about $2.5 billion) to help states in central and northern Mexico affected by the drought.
The funds will be used to fix and improve the systems that supply water to residents of drought-stricken areas, as well as to provide food to communities affected by the natural disaster.
Corn and beans are staples in the Mexican diet and shortages could lead to speculation, sending the prices of these commodities soaring, the CNC said.
“Of the 4.2 million people who fell into food poverty from 2008 to 2010, nearly 75 percent (about 3 million)” live in rural areas, the CNC said.
–IANS/EFE
rd
- 2.5 mn Mexicans at risk of going hungry due to drought - Jan 27, 2012
- Mexican farmers to sell commodities on futures market - Aug 02, 2012
- Mexico sets world record for highest suspension bridge - Jan 07, 2012
- School fees now deductible from income tax in Mexico - Feb 16, 2011
- Mexico's foreign reserves rise - Apr 04, 2012
- Debt-laden Mexican state keeps financial records secret - Dec 01, 2011
- Mexico to launch three new satellites - Oct 06, 2010
- Mexico sees $3.5 bn foreign investment in tourism over 3 years - Apr 15, 2011
- Mexican poet wins human rights prize - Apr 23, 2012
- 60 mn below poverty line in Mexico by yearend - Sep 06, 2012
- Mexico enacts witness-protection law - Jun 09, 2012
- Mexico makes large offshore oil find - Aug 30, 2012
- Mexico's 2011 growth outlook improves - Dec 02, 2011
- Opium gum worth $12 mn seized in Mexico - Jan 22, 2011
- Audi to build $1.3 bn plant in Mexico - Sep 07, 2012
Tags: agricultural production, city feb, cnc, confederation, corn and beans, disbursement, drought, feb 14, food poverty, food shortages, institutional revolutionary party, mexico city, natural disaster, northern mexico, peasant, peasants, president felipe calderon, staples, stricken areas, supply water