According to Pedro Luis Benitez Velez, delegate of the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food (SAGARPA), the torrential rains experienced in Michoacán last weekend had a negative impact on 11,965 hectares that include products like strawberry, banana, lime, blackberry, onion, and avocado, among other crops, belonging to 1,862 farmers who live in 19 municipalities.

After saying they were still assessing the magnitude of the damage, Benitez Velez stressed that the rains had affected 910 hectares of the district of Coahuayana, which belonged to 320 producers of Coahuayana and Aquila that produced melon, pepper and tamarind. Meanwhile, 500 hectares of lime in the Valley of Apatzingán had been damaged to the detriment of 125 farmers from Apatzingán, Buenavista and Tepalcatepec. In Uruapan, Tancítaro and San Juan Nuevo the rains affected 6,000 hectares of blackberry and avocado, owned by 600 farmers. In Zamora and Jacona, the rains affected 1,300 hectares and 155 strawberry producers. In Zacapu, 30 hectares of strawberry and eight producers were affected by the weather. 45 hectares and 19 avocado producers had losses in Huiramba. The rains also affected 100 hectares of melon and 25 farmers in Huetamo. 3,000 acres of onions, chickpeas, beans, tomatoes and wheat suffered damages in Briseñas, Jiquilpan, Venustiano Carranza and Villamar. 80 hectares of wheat, maize and vegetables in Morelia and Álvaro Obregón were also negatively affected.

This, however, is a preliminary assessment as the weather monitoring systems that SAGARPA consults, the National Water Commission (Conagua), the National Institute of Meteorology and NOAA, and the National Hurricane Centre in Florida, USA, have stated it was probable there would be a recurrence of rainfall and low temperatures in the next few days, although with less intensity than the rainfall of the previous weekend.

Pending support for affected producers:

As part of the support that the local delegation of SAGARPA required from its central counterpart after the heavy rains last weekend, SAGARPA has been delivering fungicide, to prevent fungal growth due to the increased humidity levels, and restructuring loans with the Nafin so that the producers affected by the weather contingencies in the state don't default.

Pedro Luis Benitez Velez said these damages would not generate shortages or increase food prices in the state because the damage was not widespread.

Source - http://www.freshplaza.com/