El Niño Strengthens, Belizean Farmers Face Greater Agricultural Risks
Belizean farmers are being urged to prepare for a strengthening El Niño, with hotter and drier conditions expected to put additional pressure on crops, livestock and water supplies through the coming months.
The latest outlook gives a 97 percent chance that El Niño will remain active through April 2027, while there is an 81 percent chance that the event will reach the “very strong” category between November and January.
Agriculture officials and climate experts have warned that the greatest impacts are expected between now and April, although the effects could continue for several months beyond that.
Minister of State for Economic Transformation Dr Osmond Martinez says the weather has already been difficult to predict, with Belize experiencing a mix of dry conditions and rainfall despite forecasts of drought.
“The forecast was for drought, however it has been a mix weather patterns where you see drought, where you see rain,” Martinez said.
He said El Niño is also adding to challenges already facing the agricultural sector, particularly in the sugar industry.
He said farmers also continue to face longer-term challenges, including limited access to affordable finance.
“Some problems lie because of access to affordable finance to cane farmers… not being able to invest in replanting the cane fields, putting proper draining, irrigation system, improving the way of methodology of how they practice agriculture,” he said.
Martinez said the government is looking at ways to modernise the sugar industry, including the potential to generate additional financing through carbon sequestration and carbon credits.