Field authorities expected an increase in the municipality's apple production as a result of crop conversion; however, that didn't happen this year as, instead of increasing, production decreased by 25 percent.
In 2015, the municipality devoted 260 hectares to produce apples, a number that decreased to 200 hectares in 2016 because farmers consider that the constant climate changes taking place in the municipality will not be favorable for this crop.
Victor Manuel Torres Escobedo, regional coordinator of the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food, said that pests had affected all the hectares last year, which led to a decrease in production.
Benito Perez Gonzalez, one of the leading apple producers in Fresnillo, said that was the main reason why some farmers had decided not to plant this fruit.
Apple crops in the municipality yield an average of three and a half tons per hectare, thus the decrease in area represents a loss of nearly 210 tons of the Red Delicious and Golden Delicious apple varieties; the main fruits produced in the municipality.
A few years ago, the municipality devoted up to one thousand hectares to apple production, a number that has decreased to the current levels because of the aforementioned reason.
Given this factor there is the risk that apple cultivation disappears, especially if the fruit continues being damaged.
The communities that usually produce apples are Santa Rosa, El Salto, Tapias de Santa Cruz, and Buenavista de Trujillo. There are nearly 70 farmers working in these areas.
Source: ntrzacatecas.com