Drought ravages Mexico

Residents in the small northern Mexican town of San Jose de los Gonzalez face a water shortage as one of the worst droughts in decades ravages large swaths of the country.
Dusty fields and dangerously low water reserves are a common sight.
Harvest production has fallen significantly, and cattle deaths approach the half million mark nationally.
Often residents have a tough choice to make-- drink contaminated water, or drink nothing at all.
(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) RESIDENT, AMELIA GONZALEZ SAYING:
"That's how we drink it. People get ill and suffer from diarrhea but it doesn't matter, that's how I drink it."
Nearly 70 per of the country is suffering the affects of the drought that officials say will continue into next year.
While the Mexican government has set aside $113 million to cover farmers losses', it may not be enough to handle such widespread devastation.
(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) DIRECTOR FOR ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR LATIN AMERICA, HECTOR MATALLO SAYING:
"The effects have great impact on society, food security, the quality of life of the people and it can cause people to emigrate from their towns because people won't be employed due to the drought. They need to look for another way to make a living elsewhere. They are global problems that have an impact on a national scale and in states, some states more than others. At the moment, there are a lot of states in Mexico affected by desertification."
Analysts say as one of the world's top five corn producers, Mexico will soon be forced to raise food imports and prices.
Julie Noce, Reuters