The effects of climate change are affecting citrus activity and the more than 50 percent decrease in production seen in the last four crop cycles is proof of this is.
Javier Ibarra Echartea, president of the Emiliano Zapata Regional Union of Citrus, which is part of the National Peasant Confederation (CNC), stated that they had managed to produce more than 600,000 tons of oranges per year about 5 years ago and that they currently only achieved harvesting less than 400,000 tons per year.
He stated that climate change was a reality that was already wreaking havoc in this activity causing young trees to have a low production, when they previously produced a large amount of citrus products.
He stated that, according to estimates, this year's harvest won't exceed 400,000 tons, which he considered very unfortunate for his colleagues.
In addition to climate change, producers are threatened by the yellow dragon disease, which could wipe out the entire sector in the state.
He recognized the efforts the State Government made to implement a program to inspect all the plants and fruits that travel the roads of Tamaulipas to control this bacteria.
One of the immediate measures that have been taken, he said, is the destruction of the ornamental lime plants that are widely used in homes, which can host the bacteria; an action that is being carried out statewide.
Source: laverdad.com.mx