Water issues in Mexican agriculture: Focus of the agri-track in upcoming water mission
The Netherlands Embassy in Mexico and The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) are organizing a water mission to Mexico from 5 to 9 September 2022 for Dutch companies specialized in water solutions and interested in the Mexican market. The mission will consist of two separate tracks: an urban track and an agri track. The latter will take Dutch participants to the agri hotspots of Sinaloa and Guanajuato (in the Bajío Region). In this article we will elaborate on the water issues the agricultural sector in these regions are facing.
Agricultural Growth
The Mexican agri-food sector has been growing steadily. Between 2010 and 2019, agricultural value grew 204%, while livestock grew 203% and aquaculture 35%, topping US$35 billion, US$33 billion and US$926 million respectively in 2019. Exports have been a major driver for this growth. Mexican agri-food exports have increased from US$13.4 billion in 2010 to US $26.3 billion in 2019. This growth of the agri-food sector has nevertheless had its toll. Water issues are present in most agri-food regions in Mexico, and major agri-food production regions rely on basins and aquifers with water deficits, pollution and salinity, where soil degradation is a common issue. Forecasts point to significant sector growth in the upcoming years in terms of production and value, but estimates also expect increasing greenhouse gas emissions, pollution, and water scarcity.
Market Study
At this moment many agri-food producers rely on obsolete irrigation systems and lack proper wastewater treatment, water re-use and water catchment technologies, have limited access to technical assistance, and a high dependency on chemical inputs. Many agri-food producers are aware of this and are open to adopt new technologies.
This offers opportunities for companies from the Netherlands specialized in water consultancy, research, water management, on-farm water technologies, irrigation, water treatment & remediation, crop-specific or livestock farming-related water issues, soil restoration and regeneration, etc.
Identified hotspots
A market study commissioned by the Netherlands Embassy in 2021 into the opportunities for Dutch water companies in the Mexican agricultural sector concluded that Dutch companies interested in capitalizing on these opportunities should focus on five identified regions, the so-called “hotspots”. These hotspots are highly productive agri-food regions with water issues that could be addressed by Dutch expertise and producers that are able and willing to afford Dutch technology. The study describes the specific water issues and situation of each of these hotspots.
The agri-track of the upcoming water mission to Mexico will visit two of these hotspots, i.e. the state of Sinaloa (North Pacific), and the state of Guanajuato in the Bajío-Occidente (Central–Western Mexico) region. Both are in urgent need of solutions for important water issues
Sinaloa (North Pacific)
Sinaloa is Mexico’s third most important agricultural state and its second largest agricultural exporter. Agricultural activities make up 12% of its economy and it is the state with the largest area of protected horticulture. Sinaloa is Mexico’s largest producer of maize, tomato, cucumber, chickpeas, green tomato, aubergine and sesame seeds and has an important food processing industry. It is also a region that suffers increasing droughts and pollution, creating many opportunities for water management technologies.
“In Sinaloa we have 11 reservoirs with a total volume of 22,760 million cubic meters. We have very hot summers and our precipitation (around 800 mm/year) is practically concentrated in just two months”, says Enrique Riveros, President of AARC, the Growers Association of Culiacán in Sinaloa. “Because of this we are dependent on irrigation and our greatest challenge is the efficiency of irrigation in order to better conserve and not waste the water we have in the reservoirs.
The vast majority of irrigation is by gravity through furrows or by flooding, so the expense and waste of water is very great, in addition, a lot of water is lost during the distribution of the water from the reservoirs to the planting plots”.
According to the market study, the main water issues in Sinaloa are aquifers with water deficit, water pollution and strong and extreme soil degradation.
While this region is well known as a horticultural exporter and its markets are growing, demand for water-intensive crops is also increasing. The main challenge is to increase water access through infrastructure at all levels. There is a strong need to encourage modernization of irrigation and water re-use systems.
This is echoed by Enrique Riveros:
“Currently the vast majority of us irrigate either through pre-established programming or at the interpretation of the farmer. We need solutions for simple and practical measurement of the amount of water that is really required by the crops. This way we know when it is necessary to irrigate and how much.
We also need more efficient irrigation systems and, since these systems are expensive, financing for their acquisition. At the macro level, volume measurement systems are needed in reservoirs and water distribution channels, as well as technologies for efficient use and reduction of losses. Rain stimulation technologies, or basically any idea or system that helps us spend less water or capture more water during the rain cycle.
Guanajuato (Central–Western Mexico)
The State of Guanajuato is another agricultural hotspot, part of Mexico’s booming Central Bajío region, the country’ primary agricultural production region. The region already hosts many Dutch suppliers to Mexico’s growing agricultural sector. Within El Bajío, Guanajuato is the second most important agricultural producer. At national level, it is the largest producer of broccoli, barley, cauliflower and lettuce, the second largest producer of agave, onion, asparagus, sorghum and wheat and the third largest strawberry producer. It also has an important food processing industry. As the state suffers from water scarcity and pollution, there are ample opportunities for water management technologies for improved water efficiency at farms.
The main water issues identified by the Embassy’s study in this region are water basins and aquifers with a water deficit, water pollution and soil degradation. The main water challenges are to satisfy the irrigation needs of the total surface with limited water availability in lakes, basins and aquifers and inefficient and obsolete irrigation technology. There is also limited water reuse and treatment in the state, while in some specific municipalities, intensive use of chemicals adds further pressure to soil and water quality. Few agricultural companies in the State have so far invested in irrigation technology to improve irrigation efficiency.
Water mission to Mexico
All of the above creates opportunities for Dutch businesses that offer water technology and solutions for farmers. This is why the Netherlands Embassy in Mexico and The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) are organizing a water mission to Mexico from 5 to 9 September 2022. The mission will be led by Dutch Water Envoy Henk Ovink and will consist of an urban track and an agri track. The agri-track will consist of an interesting programme in Mexico-City, Sinaloa and Guanajuato, which will offers Dutch participants:
- An insight into the most important water issues and stakeholders in the Mexican agricultural sector, in particular in Sinaloa and Guanajuato
- On-site visits to Mexican farms and agri-food businesses
- The possibility to pitch their offer to relevant Mexican parties
- Network events to meet potential leads
A visit and a tailor-made agri programme at the Aquatech trade show in Mexico-City (organized by RAI Amsterdam and Tarsus).
For more information see the mission announcement or contact the agricultural team of The Netherlands embassy at MEX-LNV@minbuza.nl
