Drought in Ahome Halts Dairy Production; Farmers Suffer 60% Loss
Sourse: dairynews.today
A severe drought in Ahome, Sinaloa, causes a dramatic drop in milk production, affecting the livelihood of local farmers.
The ongoing drought in Ahome, located in the Sinaloa region, has resulted in a significant reduction of milk production by as much as 60%. Municipalities such as Los Mochis have seen a drop from 50,000 liters to 20,000 liters per day. This dramatic decrease not only affects local supply but also hits the livelihood of producers.
The water scarcity impacts not only the animals, with channels, wells, and watering holes nearly dried up, leading to estimated cattle mortality rates ranging from 10% to 50%. Reports have confirmed the death of 50 cattle in Mazatlán due to similar conditions, attributed to malnutrition and water stress.
To mitigate the crisis, farmers propose urgent measures including the installation of motor pumps, water tanks, and water transport for livestock. However, they warn that these measures are insufficient as the region has not seen significant rainfall in the past two years. Compounding the issue are low milk prices, approximately 11.50 $/liter, which prevent farmers from offsetting productivity losses.
Producers have resorted to selling their output to Liconsa, which offers a minimum guaranteed price. The local dairy community demands state support for water infrastructure, forage subsidies, and sustainable minimum pricing schemes. Without coordinated interventions, the sector and local food security face substantial risks.
The water scarcity impacts not only the animals, with channels, wells, and watering holes nearly dried up, leading to estimated cattle mortality rates ranging from 10% to 50%. Reports have confirmed the death of 50 cattle in Mazatlán due to similar conditions, attributed to malnutrition and water stress.
To mitigate the crisis, farmers propose urgent measures including the installation of motor pumps, water tanks, and water transport for livestock. However, they warn that these measures are insufficient as the region has not seen significant rainfall in the past two years. Compounding the issue are low milk prices, approximately 11.50 $/liter, which prevent farmers from offsetting productivity losses.
Producers have resorted to selling their output to Liconsa, which offers a minimum guaranteed price. The local dairy community demands state support for water infrastructure, forage subsidies, and sustainable minimum pricing schemes. Without coordinated interventions, the sector and local food security face substantial risks.
