Hails recorded last Saturday afternoon have led to losses of up to 40% in the flowering of citrus trees in the Mexican municipalities of Padilla and Ciudad Victoria, website Enlineadirecta.info reported.

Growers in the two municipalities will likely have lower production, according to Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fishing and Food (SAGARPA) Tamaulipas agricultural promotion chief Arnulfo López Olivares.

López Olivares told the publication it was still too early to have a result of the overall damages, but trees that were in flowering will have problems.

"The damage is in the leaves, and the tomb of production will be lifted at the end of this year or at the start of 2013 - on average it's 20-40%, although the fruit is still alive and there is still the expectation of production," he was quoted as saying.

He added that disaster assistance could be given to growers who have lost flowering due to the phenomenon, but applications would need to be made involving the state government and the national water commission.

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