Overview of Agricultural Performance in Querétaro
Querétaro, Qro. The agricultural economic activity declined by 13% in the state during 2024, according to the Producto Interno Bruto por Entidad Federativa (PIBE) results released by the Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía (INEGI). This decline is the steepest since 2011, when agriculture dropped by 23%.
Previous Growth Trends
- In 2023, the agricultural sector grew by 7.4% after two consecutive years of decline: 7.2% in 2021 and 2.3% in 2022.
- The 13% drop in 2024 broke the positive growth streak established in the previous year.
Positive Performance in Pecuary and Related Activities
Despite the agricultural decline, the pecuary and animal exploitation sector saw an annual growth of 23% in 2024, which is the highest growth rate ever recorded for this activity. This growth helped offset the agricultural sector’s downturn.
- The forest exploitation and related agroforestry services also increased by 4.5% in 2024, although this growth was more moderate compared to the 14.2% growth in 2023.
Overall Primary Activities Growth
Combined, the primary activities in Querétaro grew by 13.3% in 2024, primarily driven by the pecuary sector’s performance. This growth rate is the highest since 2012, when primary activities increased by 14.9%.
Querétaro’s Primary Activities Performance Compared to Other Entities
Querétaro’s primary activities growth of over 13% placed it third among Mexican states for the year, with Zacatecas leading at 15.3% and Yucatán following closely at 14.4%. This growth surpassed the national average of 0.4% for primary activities.
- Seven entities reported a decline in primary activities, with Baja California (-15.3%), Quintana Roo (-14.4%), and Sonora (-7.7%) experiencing the most significant drops.
Impact of Severe Drought
The 13% drop in agricultural activity in 2024 coincides with one of the most severe drought periods. In the first half of June 2024, all 18 municipalities in Querétaro were experiencing exceptional drought, the highest severity level according to data from the Comisión Nacional del Agua (CONAGUA).
Following the 2024 rainy season, Querétaro experienced six consecutive months without drought records from June to November, as reported by CONAGUA’s Sequía Monitor for Mexico.
Key Questions and Answers
- What caused the 13% drop in agricultural activity? The decline coincided with an exceptionally severe drought period in Querétaro.
- Which sectors within primary activities showed growth? The pecuary sector grew by 23%, and forest exploitation and related agroforestry services increased by 4.5%.
- How did Querétaro’s primary activities performance compare to other states? Querétaro ranked third in primary activities growth, surpassing the national average of 0.4%.
- What was the drought situation in Querétaro during 2024? Querétaro experienced exceptional drought conditions from June to November 2024, following a period of severe drought in the first half of June.
