Severe drought! Reservoir levels across Colombia are below 30 percent

Source:Best Coffee > News Author:qjroot Published:2024-04-17 17:24:44

It is understood that Colombia, located in the tropical region near the equator, experiences its dry season from December to February each year. However, the impact of El Niño has exacerbated the drought conditions.

In fact, Colombia is a country with abundant freshwater resources, but some government departments have not made good use of them. According to expert analysis, Colombia has the richest water resources in Latin America, yet it is also the country that wastes the most water—especially in establishing and maintaining crops—because agriculture is a key pillar of Colombia’s economy. The main agricultural products are coffee, bananas, and flowers, all of which require large amounts of water during cultivation. Nationwide, 70% of the water is used for agriculture.

In addition, according to data from Colombia’s National Planning Department (DNP), four out of every 10 liters of water in the country are lost due to tank overflows or leaks, deteriorating pipeline networks, illegal connections, or measurement errors. There are also serious issues such as water pollution and deforestation.

However, there is some positive news. According to Colombia’s Ministry of Environment and the Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (IDEAM), the rainy season will begin in mid-to-late April, and rain is expected soon, which is likely to alleviate the current drought conditions. However, the La Niña phenomenon may subsequently occur, bringing heavy downpours and other extreme weather. Industry insiders in the coffee sector noted that while heavy rainfall could relieve the drought, excessive precipitation and lower temperatures afterward may negatively affect coffee growth, and coffee farmers need to be prepared for what’s to come.

Severe drought! Reservoir levels across Colombia are below 30 percent

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