Background on Key Figures and Relevance
Alfredo Porras Domínguez, the delegate of the Secretaría de Agricultura y Desarrollo Rural (Sader) in Jalisco, Mexico, announced that farmers in the region will regain their expired water concessions. This decision comes after acknowledging the responsibility of Sader and the National Water Commission (Conagua) for the previous issues. The president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, is expected to issue a decree within a month to restore these concessions.
The Water Concession Issue and Solution
During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a disconnect between farmers and the authorities responsible for addressing their needs. As a result, some farmers had their water concessions revoked without proper justification. Porras Domínguez explained that a program will be implemented to rectify this situation by returning the expired concessions to their rightful owners.
In exchange for regaining their concessions, farmers will voluntarily cede a portion of their water rights to Sader. This water will then be distributed to municipalities in Jalisco that currently lack access to this vital resource. One such example is Ameca, where water scarcity is a pressing concern.
Long-term Water Management Plan
President Claudia Sheinbaum has emphasized the importance of a long-term, equitable water management plan through the National Hydric Plan. She highlighted the necessity of organizing water concessions under a single registry to ensure fair distribution and sustainable development.
Strengthening the PEUA Program
In addition to addressing water concessions, Porras Domínguez also mentioned the reinforcement of the Program Especial de Energía de Uso Agrícola (PEUA). This program covers up to 95% of the electricity costs associated with agricultural production in Jalisco, benefiting over 7,200 agroproductors.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Alfredo Porras Domínguez? He is the delegate of the Secretaría de Agricultura y Desarrollo Rural (Sader) in Jalisco, Mexico.
- What is the issue with water concessions in Jalisco? Some farmers had their water concessions revoked without proper justification, leading to a disconnect between farmers and the responsible authorities.
- How will the situation be resolved? A program will return expired concessions to their rightful owners, with farmers voluntarily ceding a portion of their water rights to support municipalities lacking access to water.
- What is the National Hydric Plan? It is a long-term water management plan emphasizing equitable distribution and sustainable development, including the organization of water concessions under a single registry.
- What is the PEUA program? The Program Especial de Energía de Uso Agrícola (PEUA) covers up to 95% of the electricity costs for agricultural production in Jalisco, supporting over 7,200 agroproductors.
