Chihuahua rural and agricultural development

The Chihuahua municipal and state governments have implemented various initiatives to support rural and agricultural sectors. Initial efforts focused on municipal infrastructure and social services, including investments in school transportation, classroom improvements, and expanded health services through the Municipal Institute for Prevention and Health Care (IMPAS). Emergency response capabilities were also bolstered with new units, including an ambulance donated by Rancho County, Colorado.

Subsequent developments shifted toward state-level agricultural management. Secretary of Rural Development Mauro Parada Muñoz has prioritized water sustainability through projects like the Tabalaopa Treated Wastewater Irrigation District to promote a circular water economy. Additionally, authorities are managing an outbreak of cattle screwworm in southern regions, working to establish a sanitary belt to protect northern ranching areas and livestock exports.

At Expo Agro 2026, officials addressed critical water scarcity, with Mayor Marco Bonilla presenting the Municipal Water Plan 2040. The plan highlights that of Chihuahua’s 61 aquifers, 14 are overexploited and 41 have no availability. To mitigate this, the municipality aims to replace groundwater use with treated water for agriculture. A central component is the Tabalaopa-Chihuahua irrigation unit, designed to provide up to 27 million cubic meters of treated water annually for the Rancho del Medio area. Secretary Parada Muñoz emphasized that agriculture must integrate circular economy principles and smarter resource management to ensure regional economic stability.

During the Expo, the Secretary of Rural Development also detailed specific livestock protection measures against the Cattle Screwworm, including the distribution of prevention kits, training for over 5,250 producers, and the coordination of dispersing 130 million sterile flies. Furthermore, the introduction of the Virtual Center for Added Value (CV2A) aims to connect producers with academia to increase the value of the state’s agri-food production through technological innovation.