THE 8 MAIN ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES OF ZACATECAS - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2024

The main economic activities of Zacatecas are mining, agriculture and tourism. The generation of economic resources to meet the needs of the population depends to a greater extent on these.

Zacatecas is a state of Mexico that is characterized by having large deposits of silver and other minerals, for its colonial architecture and for being the cradle of great characters that marked the history of the Mexican Revolution.

Zacatecas Economic Activities

In a territorial extension of 75,040 km², Zacatecas has 4 geographical regions with marked contrasts (climate, vegetation, soil and fauna).

This allows mining, agriculture and livestock exploitation as a fundamental part of its economy.

Most important economic activities in Zacatecas

1. Mining

It is the economic activity par excellence in the region.

Zacatecas is the world's leading silver producer and the leading zinc producer in Latin America.

The extraction of these minerals is mainly concentrated in the municipalities of Fresnillo and Sombrerete.

One of the difficulties that the Zacatecan mining suffers is that the added value of the production takes place outside the region.

This reduces the activity to extraction alone, contributing only 5% to the state's GDP (Gross Domestic Product).

Additionally, within this heading, the extraction of gold, mercury, lead, iron, antimony, salt, bismuth, copper, quartz, onyx, kaolin and cadmium also stands out.

2. Agriculture

Zacatecas has important geographical areas suitable for agriculture, employing an approximate of 1,303,564 hectares in this activity.

It is the leading national producer of beans, forage oats and chili.

In addition, this Mexican state is an important producer of corn, barley, sorghum, onion, garlic, nopal, peach, alfalfa, guava and maguey.

3. Livestock

In Zacatecas, livestock depends fundamentally on cattle, although sheep, pigs, goats, horses, gallinaceous birds and turkeys are also produced.

4. Fishing

Despite not having coastlines, the capture of aquaculture products such as: tilapia, catfish, carp and bass stands out as an important economic activity in the region.

5. Forestry

Obtaining timber forest products is also a primary economic activity characteristic of Zacatecas.

Basically, pine and oak stand out in this category.

6. Manufacturing

Within secondary activities, manufacturing is a growing economic sector.

Especially the food, beverage (brewing) and tobacco industries, followed by the metal products, machinery and equipment industry.

7. Trade

The tertiary activity of commerce in Zacatecas has 48,257 companies that employ 174,368 people.

The annual salary of commercial workers in this state is 72,211 Mexican pesos, a figure lower than the average received by workers from other states in the country, which is 99,114 Mexican pesos.

8. Tourism

The colonial communities of Zacatecas have special international recognition, which makes them a valuable tourist attraction, especially the city of Zacatecas, Guadalupe, Fresnillo, Sombrerete and Jerez de García de Salinas.

The most frequented tourist sites in Zacatecas are:

• The Historic Center of Zacatecas and the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, both declared by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites.
• The magical towns: Jerez de García de Salinas, Teúl de González Ortega, Sombrerete, Pinos, Nochistlán de Mejía
• The archaeological zones: There are more than 500, with La Quemada and Altavista being the most recognized.

References

1. Quarterly Indicator of State Economic Activity. (2017). In: inegi.org.mx.
2. Zacatecas State and Economic Information (sf). Retrieved on October 29, 2017 from: gob.mx.
3. Luna, G. (August 6, 2016). Economic Activity in Zacatecas. In: elsoldezacatecas.com.mx.
4. Pino, J. (October 25, 2012). The Regional Economy: Location of Economic Activities. In: ntrzacatecas.com.
5. Zacatecas. (October 24, 2017). In: es.wikipedia.org.