When the rain stops, the struggle begins. Suriname, the lush country on South America's northeastern coast, is feeling the heat—literally! 🌡️ A fierce El Niño has kept the skies dry for eight long months, plunging the nation into its worst drought in a quarter-century.
The northern districts of Para and Saramacca are hit hardest. 🌴 Farmers watch as their once-bountiful crops shrink, with yields plummeting over 25%. "Some of them (fruit trees) get very small, but they should be like this (higher) one," a weary plantation manager in Saramacca shared, gesturing to the stunted trees.
🥭🍊 Fruit that's supposed to be juicy and sweet is now shriveled and dry. "Sometimes the fruit is already half-cooked inside because of the sun. When we harvest oranges, they don't have juice inside," a plantation technician explained, highlighting the intense impact of the scorching sun.
But it's not just the sun that's the problem. Suriname is also grappling with a lack of water facilities, irrigation resources, and modern farming technology. 💧🚫 The combination of natural disaster and infrastructural challenges has left many farmers scrambling to save what little they can.
Hold on to your umbrellas, though! ☔ The local meteorological department predicts that a new rainy season will arrive in April. This much-needed rain could be the hero Suriname's agriculture desperately needs, offering hope to farmers and communities anxiously awaiting relief. 🙏
As the nation waits for the first drops to fall, the resilience of Suriname's people shines through. Here's hoping Mother Nature lends a helping hand soon! 🌧️❤️
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
