Drought and El Niño Fears Put Guatemalan Farmers on Edge

Email: online@newsofbahrain.com

The prolonged drought and the expected arrival of El Niño pose threats to the crops and livelihoods of the Indigenous Maya town of Xetzac in Guatemala's Quiché department, leading residents to be concerned about an intensifying food crisis.

Farmers say that the lack of rain has left fields of corn, beans, potatoes and vegetables dry. Since many families only engage in farming for survival, crop failure could result in starvation. Without rain, ‘we're going to die of hunger,’ a local farmer expressed his fear.

The region is part of Central America's ‘Dry Corridor,’ a prone to drought zone that spans Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua. Governments across the region have increased alerts as El Niño is predicted to develop between June and August, potentially worsening existing severe drought conditions.

Drought and the potential for a significant El Niño occurrence may cause food insecurity for almost 2.5 million Guatemalans, according to experts. The Guatemalan government says it has prepared 1.1 million emergency food supplies in case things worsen further.

The long-term effects of climate change have been identified by locals. According to official data, Guatemala's drought-affected ‘Dry Corridor’ has grown significantly over the past twenty years, subjecting more villages to frequent crop losses and water shortages.

An upsurge in deportations from the United States has reduced a crucial source of revenue for rural communities, causing many families to lose money from relatives who work abroad.