Chihuahua drought may result in irrigation suspension

The government of Mexico's Chihuahua state may suspend irrigation from dams of continued droughts in the region, El Universal reported. The national water commission (CNA) estimates the dams are working at an average 18-21% capacity. In the case of a closure, the dams would be earmarked for human water consumption only, which would seriously affect local agriculture, the paper added. Municipal officials and state Congress have asked the livestock and agriculture ministry to declare the state's most-affected northeastern region a natural disaster area, in order to request funds from the national natural disaster fund (Fonden). The state will launch a contingency plan to avoid future drought problems, including the prevention of the exodus of local residents to the US. The state has also asked the federal government for additional financing for remediation works.