With the presence of state and federal authorities, the formal start of modernization works took place this Thursday in irrigation districts 038 Río Mayo and 041 Río Yaqui in southern Sonora, as part of a national program that seeks to transform the efficient use of water in agriculture and strengthen food production.
The event took place in the Mayo region, where the state governor, Alfonso Durazo Montaño, led the supervision, along with the general director of the National Water Commission (Conagua), Efraín Morales López, as well as federal officials, legislators, municipal presidents, and representatives of the irrigation modules.
The state governor noted that this is an unprecedented investment for Sonora, with an initial amount of 6.5 billion pesos allocated to the modernization of more than 20,000 hectares, equivalent to 10% of the state’s agricultural land.
“These are extraordinary resources; an investment of this magnitude isn’t achieved every day. This reflects our president Claudia Sheuimban’s commitment to the people of Sonora and compels us to respond responsibly, ensuring that Sonora is a source of solutions, not problems,” he said.
In his speech, Morales López emphasized that this program is part of the National Water Plan mandated by the president of Mexico, with the goal of guaranteeing water for human consumption while simultaneously strengthening the productive sector.
The director of Conagua explained that 76% of Mexico’s water is consumed in agriculture, making modernization essential to improve efficiency and address droughts.
The federal official also explained that the works include lining canals, installing control gates, and modern irrigation systems such as sprinklers, micro-sprinklers, and drip irrigation, depending on the region and type of crop.
This will allow for the production of more food with less water and recover volumes that can be used for human consumption.
“We’re talking about a program that’s unique in the world because it directly links agricultural technology with human consumption. In other words, in addition to guaranteeing food, we ensure that families have water in their homes,” Morales López stated.
The start of the work was also attended by the Deputy Director General of Hydro-Agricultural Infrastructure of Conagua, Aarón Mastache Mondragón, and the mayor of Navojoa, Jorge Alberto Elías Retes, and Javier Lamarque de Cajeme, who agreed on the importance of these projects for regional development.
Durazo Montaño took the opportunity to thank representatives and mayors such as Javier Lamarque Cano of Cajeme, who support these types of projects that represent a structural transformation in the lives of producers in southern Sonora.
According to the data presented, Sonora produces 90% of the wheat consumed in the country, so modernizing irrigation districts is strategic for maintaining agricultural productivity while protecting water resources.
It is worth mentioning that the modernization works in districts 038 and 041 are part of a national plan that includes modernizing more than 200,000 hectares in Mexico by 2030.
Source: oem
