Thursday, January 29, 2026
INDUSTRY

Aguascalientes' Green Economic Engine

Aguascalientes' Green Economic Engine

Aguascalientes' agroindustry is a vital, tech-driven, and diversified economic pillar, supporting value chains, employment, and foreign trade in the Bajío region.

Agroindustry has emerged as one of the less visible, yet most consistent, pillars of Aguascalientes’ economy. Moving beyond sole reliance on the manufacturing industry, the state has built a technologically advanced, diversified agricultural base with a strong entrepreneurial focus. Official data reveals that this robust agricultural sector not only supplies the domestic market but also sustains value chains, employment, and foreign trade in the Bajío region.

Agroindustry, Aguascalientes, and the Economy: A Quantifiable Relationship

The significance of agroindustry in Aguascalientes’ economy is elucidated by figures, not rhetoric. According to the Agri-Food and Fisheries Information Service (SIAP), the state consistently ranks within the national top 10 for numerous vegetable crops, both by volume and economic value.

In terms of total agri-food volume, 71% of Aguascalientes’ production originates from the agricultural sector, while 28.4% comes from the livestock sector. This structure contrasts with the national average, where 90.9% of agri-food volume depends on agriculture, reflecting a more balanced productive composition within the state.

When the analysis shifts to economic value, the landscape changes. The agricultural sector contributes 15.9% of the state’s total agri-food value, according to SIAP data. This disparity between volume and value highlights a central challenge: increasing the value-added of plant production.

Fruits Where Aguascalientes Holds National Positions

Official SIAP records position Aguascalientes among the states with the highest fresh fruit yield, not due to territorial extension, but rather productivity and specialization.

Among the most relevant crops are:

, with a strong concentration in Calvillo. - Grapes (table, wine, and juice): consistent presence in the national top 5, according to various official series. - Strawberry: ranked between 5th and 7th nationally, depending on the agricultural cycle. - Peach: stable production within the country's top 10. - Pitahaya (Dragon Fruit): emerging crop with rankings between 4th and 10th nationally, depending on the year.

These fruits drive processes of packaging, refrigeration, transformation, and logistics, thereby extending their impact beyond the agricultural field.

High-Value Vegetables Supporting the Agricultural Economy

In vegetables, Aguascalientes’ agroindustry demonstrates a clear orientation towards intensive and technologically advanced crops. According to SIAP, the state is among the leading national producers in:

  • Lettuce: 4th national rank.
  • Cauliflower: between 5th and 7th national rank.
  • Broccoli: around 7th national rank.
  • Cilantro (Coriander): 2nd to 3rd national rank.
  • Garlic, Nopal (Cactus Pear) Vegetable, and Asparagus: consistent presence in the national top 10.

These crops require efficient irrigation, sanitary control, infrastructure, and logistical planning, factors that account for their economic significance.

Crops Sustaining Agricultural Value

Five products account for a substantial portion of Aguascalientes’ agricultural value, both by volume and their integration into agroindustrial supply chains.

Agricultural Products with the Highest Economic Contribution:

CropValue (MXN Million Pesos)% of State ValueVolume
Fodder Corn85318.0%1,121,229 t
Guava78616.6%126,392 t
Red Tomato74815.8%70,214 t
Lettuce3788.0%66,572 t
Alfalfa3387.1%444,628 t

These crops not only supply the domestic market but also support transformation processes, indirect exports, and agroindustrial supply chains.

Calvillo: The Agricultural Heart of the State

Agricultural activity is not distributed homogeneously. Calvillo concentrates the largest agricultural contribution in Aguascalientes, according to official SIAP figures.

This municipality contributes:

  • 24.1% of the state’s agricultural value, equivalent to 1,140 million pesos.
  • 9.5% of the planted area, with 8,284 hectares.
  • 12.1% of the harvested area, with 7,775 hectares.

This productive concentration has transformed Calvillo into an agroindustrial hub, where , packaging, and commercialization converge.

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This post first appeared in Líder Empresarial.