Farmers in the Mexican state of Chihuahua refuse to grow marijuana in favor of avocados. According to Mayor Guadalupe and Calvo, the municipality’s agrarians, considered part of the Golden Triangle of Drug Production, have collected 10 tons of Khas avocados this year.

Today their goal is to plant up to 50 thousand avocados by the end of the year, said Mayor Noel Chavez, hoping to create a new economic model in the region: “People did not believe, but we said we would try, and the first results are visible.

This program began three years ago with the coordination of three government orders, and in three years we will see that our production will continue to grow. ”

The municipal government estimates that avocado production can produce up to 90 million pesos ($ 4.6 million) per year. Chavez says he feels motivated by farmers who themselves see great potential for growing avocados because of their popularity in markets such as China, Japan, the US and Europe.

He suggests that only poverty is to blame for the fact that farmers in the region grow marijuana and other illegal crops.

But he hopes that education and awareness will open them another way to earn a living.

Chavez devised a plan to separate communities from illegal crops and increase local fruit consumption with the hope of becoming an exporter in the next three years.