Background and Relevance of Javier Amaya Torres
Javier Amaya Torres, the General Director of Querétaro’s State Coordination of Civil Protection (CEPCQ), has taken the lead in addressing a critical situation affecting Querétaro, Mexico. As the head of CEPCQ, Amaya Torres is responsible for ensuring the state’s preparedness and response to natural disasters. His recent request for an emergency declaration underscores the severity of the ongoing drought and its associated risks.
Drought Conditions in Querétaro
According to the Monitor of Drought in Mexico (MSM), 17 out of 18 municipios in Querétaro are experiencing moderate drought (94.4%), while one municipio is classified as abnormally dry. At the state level, 62.9% is facing moderate drought, 32.3% is abnormally dry, and 4.8% remains unaffected. A year ago, the entire state was grappling with severe drought conditions, with 68.3% experiencing exceptional drought, 27.9% extreme drought, and 3.8% severe drought.
Impact on Agriculture
The agricultural sector in Querétaro has faced significant challenges due to the prolonged drought. Rosendo Anaya Aguilar, Secretary of Agropecuary Development (Sedea), noted that the situation improved slightly last year, allowing reservoirs to replenish. However, irregular rainfall patterns have caused issues such as reduced water storage, forest fires, and crop losses.
- Question: How has the drought affected the agricultural sector in Querétaro?
- Answer: The drought has negatively impacted the agricultural sector, with 9,500 farmers affected across recent productive cycles. This has resulted in losses on 22,000 hectares of land and 49,000 metric tons of maize and bean crops.
Request for Emergency Declaration
Amaya Torres explained that the emergency declaration request aims to provide immediate attention to the drought and forest fires, mitigating potential risks. Between January and May, drought conditions intensify, causing reduced water storage, forest fires, and other phenomena. The lack of rainfall has exacerbated the intensity of forest fires.
So far in 2025, CEPCQ has recorded 43 forest fires affecting 3,631 hectares, primarily in the municipalities of Amealco de Bonfil, Huimilpan, Landa de Matamoros, and Pinal de Amoles.
Support and Actions
Carlos Alberto Alcaraz Gutiérrez, Secretary of Government and Executive Secretary of the State Council of Civil Protection, emphasized that an emergency declaration would grant access to a 60-million-peso fund for addressing contingencies.
He also highlighted the importance of strengthening coordination, training, and communication with municipalities to implement protective measures for the population’s well-being.
As of April 22, the state’s seven main reservoirs are, on average, 30.1% full, according to the National Water Commission (Conagua). Out of these seven reservoirs, two are completely empty.
