According to Jaime Rodriguez Lopez, Secretary for Rural Development, some of the challenges that the producers, communities, researchers and authorities of Michoacan that are involved in the production of avocado must face to continue producing avocado and keep being a world leader in the field are finding an ecological balance that prevents environmental degradation and reverses the effects of climate change, and working to find new markets.
Rodriguez Lopez, who participated at the "Forum on Sustainable Forestry Development in face of the change in land used for growing avocado", held in the University of San Nicolas de Hidalgo in Michoacan, highlighted the importance of said forums as they stressed the advances and improvements in land use change, and gave way to discuss the challenges, such as achieving sustainability of the agricultural sector.
He stated the three tiers of government, associations, technical, indigenous communities, communal agricultural groups and industrial producers need to discuss and find a solution to the problem.
"A balance between production and environmental care must be achieved. We also have to open more borders for the Mexican avocado," he said.
Rodriguez Lopez ended his presentation by saying it was time to act, and that the forum was an opportunity to work together to make a difference and do things the best way.
In turn, the mayor of Uruapan, Aldo Macias Alejandres stated that the avocado played an important role in the states economy, so it was necessary they took actions to ensure its future, which also ensures the future of the families from Michoacan engaged in farming.
In this sense, the general director of the State Forestry Commission (COFOM) said the challenge was to develop a strategy to produce avocado in an orderly manner, with greater use of environmentally friendly technologies to restore and conserve forests in order to achieve an ecological balance and sustainable development.
He said they aspired to promote the economic, social and environmental development of Michoacan, via the integrated and sustainable management of its natural resources.
The chairman of Michoacan's State Board of Ecology (Coeeco), Manuel Tripp Rivera, stated that about 500 students, researchers, scientists and public servants who had made important contributions to the proper use of land in the State Michoacan had attended the forum.
Source: mimorelia.com