Farmers to Retire Croplands in Baja California

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28
PROGRAM #10483 12:00 PM PT

Farmers to Retire Croplands in Baja California.

Faced with the severe drought conditions in the Colorado River basin, the International Boundary and Water Commission of the United States and Mexico have agreed to possible cuts in water allocations for the Mexicali Valley. In response, to help the Colorado River system and pressured by low grain prices in international markets, farmers in the Mexicali Valley are proposing to take advantage of the compensation program for fallow lands. This historic land rest is designed for the long term and to help recharge the aquifer, say farming leaders. Meanwhile, in the neighboring Imperial Valley of California, growers are alleviating the impact of the drought impacting the Colorado River thanks to a number of water reservoirs. How dependent is the Mexicali Valley area from the Colorado River waters? What’s the plan? What lands and what farmers would be part of it? What are the alternative plans to save water and protect agriculture in the Mexico-US border area?

Guests: Dr. Carlos de la Parra Rentería, Retired Professor and Researcher, Urban and Environmental Studies, Colegio de la Frontera Norte, also Founding Partner, Luken Center for Water and Environmental Strategies, and President, Restauremos El Colorado, joining today in a personal capacity from Tijuana, Baja California, MX; Dr. Carlos Orozco, Consultant on irrigation water use and management in arid zones on both sides of the border, also Consultant in the production of various crops, Holtville, CA; Raúl Reyes, Farmer, Ejido Nayarit, Mexicali Valley, Baja California, MX.

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