El Niño exacerbates the food crisis in the countries of the Global South

“In Guinea-Bissau, the impacts of El Niño is a reality. The delayed rains and salinization—that is, the excessive accumulation of mineral salts that prevents plants from absorbing water—are hitting traditional rice cultivation with full force,” warns Cherno Talato Jalo, who is responsible for climate issues in the country.

In addition to rice, several other crops such as maize and cassava are suffering from prolonged water stress, which stunts their growth and development, and can sometimes even lead to the complete loss of the crops.

The concern is palpable, particularly among women, reports the SWISSAID team. In the rural regions of Oio, Bafatá, and Cacheu, the vegetable-growing areas managed by women’s groups are facing the threat of premature depletion of wells and shallow groundwater resources. Local peasant seeds with a long growth cycle might also fail to reach maturity if the rainy season ends earlier than expected.

Concern is also growing in Colombia and India, where irregular rainfall and water shortages have already characterized the beginning of the year and are expected to worsen.

In Colombia, the year has been particularly dry despite unusual rains from January to March. Farming communities fear a decline in fruit and seed production as well as damage to planted trees. And this is despite the fact that El Niño will only reach its peak between November and February.

In India, particularly in the state of Maharashtra, the deterioration of livelihoods due to droughts is having severe social consequences: the workload and psychological pressure on women are increasing. Furthermore, the extreme financial hardship caused by crop failures leads to an increase in seasonal migration and raises the risk of child marriages in the most vulnerable households, as they attempt to reduce household expenses.

In Tanzania, weather forecasts indicate particularly heavy rainfall from November to December, increasing the risks of flooding, soil erosion, and crop failures. Since SWISSAID’s projects are primarily concentrated in the coastal regions of Lindi and Mtwara, they are particularly at risk.

These conditions could severely affect essential crops such as maize, which is highly sensitive to excess water and irregular rainfall, as well as sorghum, which is more resistant to drought but vulnerable to waterlogged soils. A decline in yields would directly threaten the agricultural incomes and food security of rural families, warns the SWISSAID office in Tanzania.

Faced with these risks, SWISSAID teams are mobilized in the various partner countries. They are raising awareness among rural communities about the potential consequences of El Niño and implementing measures adapted to local realities. These include promoting seed and water storage, installing irrigation systems, using cover crops, and creating infiltration trenches, dams, and green barriers for flood protection.

These practices are part of the approaches that SWISSAID has long promoted in its agroecology projects. They help strengthen the resilience of communities to face climate crises and are now being reinforced.

The situation is all the more critical as El Niño compounds the disruptions in agricultural markets linked to the war in Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The working conditions of farmers and the food security of rural populations are thereby weakened even further.