Aguascalientes Seeks Federal Backing for Irrigation, Dairy and Livestock Projects

The state government presented the requests to the Secretariat of Agriculture and Rural Development, known as Sader, on August 24th. Its agenda covered water availability, commercial organisation in the dairy basin and animal-health controls.

The main water-related request concerns the completion of modernisation and piping works in Irrigation District 001 Pabellón. The project, coordinated with the National Water Commission, has a projected federal investment of 452m pesos. The remaining works are expected to directly benefit 1,780 producers and would leave the district fully technified, according to the state government.

The planned works include an estimated saving of 9m cubic metres of water. The state linked the project to lower pressure on its aquifers, without specifying a completion date.

A separate request involves establishing a milk collection and cooling centre in the municipality of El Llano. The facility is intended for small and medium-sized dairy farmers. It would preserve the milk’s physical and chemical quality, combine supplies into commercial volumes and provide formal collection routes.

The government also requested stronger systems for identifying and tracking cattle, including records of origin, movements and destination. It said reliable traceability is required for animal-health protection, inter-regional trade and the certification of herds supplying export markets. The request also referred to risks associated with the spread of the screwworm.

Aguascalientes outlined other programmes already operating with state participation. These include Agrocrédito loans at a preferential annual rate of 7%, rainwater-capture works at embankments and dams, and a Genetic Improvement Unit being developed with the Autonomous University of Aguascalientes.