Southern Madagascar braces for what may be the strongest El Niño on record
Farmers say the rains no longer arrive when they should. With parts of the south already hit by famine, aid agencies warn that drought could deepen hunger.
PANM — People in southern Madagascar are preparing for the effects of the El Niño weather pattern, which begins in October and which experts expect to be the strongest on record, Africanews reports.
The World Meteorological Organization has warned of a higher risk of drought. Farmers in the region say they are already seeing poorer crops after too little rain.
Seasons out of step
One farmer told the broadcaster that the rains no longer come at planting time, forcing people to sow at the wrong point in the year, which damages crops and produces poor seed.
The head of a local farmers' association said growing food was becoming harder as water grows scarcer, and that communities were having to ask for boreholes, pumps and generators to get by.
Hunger already present
Parts of southern Madagascar have already suffered famine, and climate change threatens to worsen food insecurity there. The World Food Programme is running door-to-door screening to find children with moderate acute malnutrition and refer them for care at health centres.
Cuts to international aid and rising prices are adding to the risk of severe hunger, according to the report.
This report is based on reporting by Africanews.
