North America Edition
Citrus growers from the central region of Tamaulipas made a first assessment of their activity and concluded that they were already suffering losses amounting to just over US $7 million.
The president of the Emiliano Zapata Regional Union of Citrus Producers, part of Taumalipas' CNC, Javier Ibarra Echartea, said those losses have been caused by several problems, which included the falling price of citrus, the presence of pests, and the excessive moisture that is causing the death of the trees.
This sector has been hard hit during 2014 by this kind of natural phenomena, even though Tamaulipas ranks second in citrus production nationwide.
He added that, as a result of these problems, at least eight thousand acres of orange have been abandoned and aren't producing, which is why it was urgent that the government authorizes financial aids to help citrus producers.
He also stated that the economic losses had multiplied because they were unable to sell much of their fruit, as it was affected by pests, and because it wasn't profitable to sell it due to the low prices in the market.
There have been different problems this season and producers have been severely affected by various causes, including the falling prices of a ton of oranges, which was at $50 dollars for the past two years, but collapsed due to lack of rains.
Additionally, farmers don't have the guarantees required to provide them with loans so the banks refuse them.
Source: laverdad.com.mx
