The worst drought in 70 years is affecting the states of Durango, Chihuahua, Baja California, Coahuila, San Luis Potosi, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, and Zacatecas, all located in the north of Mexico. At risk are 989,000 hectares of agricultural land and 1,750,000 head of cattle, revealed the Secretary of Agriculture, SAGARPA, Mariano Ruiz-Funes Macedo on Thursday.

"Climate change is here to stay," so emergency measures are necessary to mitigate current conditions," the official said during a tour in the state northern Nuevo Leon to the installation of Care Committee for Drought.

"We started with hurricanes late last year, then a severe frost, mainly in northwestern Sinaloa, but also several other states, and now we are dealing with a drought that began in May. The prognosis is not good for the coming months. Current forecasts show a lack of rain, continuing drought and relatively early and severe frosts for the next three months."

He said that in addition to the serious drought, reservoirs are low due to inadequate rainfall, particularly in the Northeast and the Bajio, which limits crop production and livestock.

However, the Secretary of SAGARPA said that the federal government gives priority to ensuring the supply of white corn and feed grain.

In Nuevo Leon, the Federation will make an initial investment of 152.8 million pesos for projects to mitigate the drought, according to the state government. 60% of these resources are allocated to agriculture, productive infrastructure projects, and a program for natural disaster insurance payments. The remaining 40% will be invested in programs to assist drinking water supply, storage areas and temporary employment.

SAGARPA said that it is working on producer support in four areas: proper water management and sustainable use of natural resources, activation of insurance schemes, funding to restore productive capacity and support for programs for temporary employment.

He stressed that given the current situation, it is necessary to create a system of Agricultural Insurance, in addition to modernization of irrigation, protected agriculture, water conservancy and early warning system for climate change, which will mitigate major impacts in the future.