📢 Big news from Botswana: An El Niño-induced drought has seriously hit the country, slashing its GDP by a staggering 38%! 😲
Crop yields have plummeted from 206,572 metric tonnes in the 2021/2022 season to just 125,184 metric tonnes in the 2022/2023 season. Cereal production is now only 23% of the nation's needs. That's a major concern for food security and the economy. 🌾🚨
The Botswana Climate Change Network (BCCN), a local climate change advocacy group, revealed in a recent report that this drought is a direct result of climate change effects—warming ocean waters altering global rainfall patterns, leading to severe droughts and floods that damage crops and livestock. 🌊🌦️➡️☀️
Late last month, President Mokgweetsi Masisi declared the 2023/2024 season an \"extreme agricultural year\" due to below-average rainfall throughout the country during the rainy season from October 2023 to March 2024. ☂️🚫
Under these challenging climatic conditions, the drought has led to an estimated $5.8 billion in losses for Botswana's GDP in 2023. That's a massive hit for the nation's economy! 💸😰
BCCN also pointed out that Botswana is among Africa's eight most affected countries by drought, significantly impacting food security and water availability. It's a stark reminder of the real-life consequences of climate change. 🌍⚠️
Climate change isn't just a topic for debates—it's causing real challenges for countries like Botswana. Time for us all to pay attention and take action! 🌿💪
Reference(s):
Report: El-Nino-induced drought reduced Botswana's GDP by 38%
cgtn.com
