Fresnillo is one of the top five municipalities in the state where the planting of garlic is highly positioned, as it is a major producing area of garlic in the entity. This year the harvest increased by nearly 25 percent.
According to the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food (SAGARPA), El Mineral alone has around 500 hectares devoted to this crop, which last year produced nearly 3,000 tons of garlic.
This year production increased to 4,180 tons, benefiting the farmers engaged in this crop.
200 inhabitants of the municipality are devoted to the cultivation of garlic. Gerardo Sánchez Ibarra, one of the main producers of garlic, said they had started planting the crop late last year and early 2016 so as to harvest between April and May.
Garlic is their only source of income, so they must produce enough to continue producing it and to cover family expenses.
In previous years the harvests weren't good because the changes in climate were not beneficial for the development of garlic, so the income was not favorable.
However, the soil moisture caused by the rainfall starting last year benefitted the crops, said Sanchez Ibarra.
A kilo of garlic is being offered at 3 pesos in the municipality and in the surrounding states.
The main producing areas in Fresnillo are the communities of San Jose de Lourdes, Rio Florido, Plenitud, El Salto, San Tadeo, Morelos, and Colonia Hidalgo.
Source: ntrzacatecas.com