Juárez Valley Farmers Come to Blows over Water

El Diario reports on April 16 that farmers in the Valley of Juárez have come to blows over irrigation water.   The farmers claim that the water agency, Conagua, is not delivering water equitably.  Individual farmers are creating blockages in the irrigation canals and using sand bags to direct more water to their fields, and  In any case the supply of water this year will be severely limited.  The director of the regional water office says that due to the delay in delivery of water from the US, he can only supply treated water (purple water) to the farmers, and that only at one-half the amount needed for irrigation.   Well water has become too salty for agriculture.

On Sunday, April 21, El Diario noted that the northwestern segment of Chihuahua would likely lose 4 million pesos of productivity this year, as farmers decide not to even try to plant crops such as wheat.   More than 2,000 hectares are likely to be left unplanted.

Thanks and a hat tip to Marshall Carter-Tripp for this report.