Brazil's been enduring severe water shortages, from the Amazon rainforest to the Pantanal wetlands. Here's what the South American country is getting wrong.

State of Amazonas

Extreme weather events are occurring more frequently amid rising sea-levels and increasing temperatures.

Climate Crisis

Brazil is currently experiencing severe water shortages that are impacting regions from the Amazon rainforest to the Pantanal wetlands. One real-world example of these challenges can be observed in the northeastern state of Bahia, where farmers, such as Cleber Diniza, are finding it increasingly difficult to sustain their livestock amid extreme weather conditions. The drought conditions have significantly affected the quality of pastures, leading to malnutrition among cows as they lose weight due to insufficient nutrition.

To combat the adverse effects of this water crisis, Cleber has managed to keep his herd intact by taking preemptive measures. He has been focusing on increasing crop production, particularly corn, to ensure a steady supply of feed for his cattle. However, expanding irrigation systems to support these crops proves to be financially burdensome. Despite the high costs associated with irrigation, Cleber recognizes its importance in maintaining consistent crop yields, especially during periods of insufficient rainfall.

Small farmers like Cleber face the daunting task of balancing their budgets while addressing the impacts of climate change on their livelihoods. Investing in irrigation equipment is seen as a critical step in ensuring the survival and health of their livestock during droughts. This reliance on irrigation highlights the broader challenges Brazil faces as it grapples with water scarcity, necessitating sustained efforts and resources to safeguard its agricultural future.



Why Brazil faces a water crisis

These cows are not supposed to look like this, emaciated with their ribs showing. They are the victims of one of Brazil's worst droughts in living memory. Here in the northeastern state of Bahia, farmers are worried about the extreme weather and its impact on their herds. The cattle suffered a lot. What we mean by that is that they lost weight, they felt the drought. The drought was noticeable in a different way. This year was not typical. They lost a lot of weight. The lack of rain affected the pasture on Cleber Diniza's ranch. That in turn impacted the quality of feed that the cows need to thrive. Cleber feared some of the cows would not survive, because of the lack of proper nutrition. The worry is exactly that, the cows become weak, lay down and die. Despite the challenge, Cleber has managed to get through the year without losing any cattle. But he realised, in order to avoid deaths during the next inevitable crisis, he needed to take action, now. This involves creating as much food for the herd as possible, by growing more crops, especially corn. But to do this, he needs to irrigate larger areas of his farm. And that costs money. A lot depends on financial resources. If you have irrigation, then you are able to control the amount of water. So if, for example, it does not rain, then you can still guarantee the corn harvest. So we are spending money on irrigation, and that is not cheap. Providing food during a drought looks likely to gobble up a large part of the budget of small farmers like Cleber for years to come. But facing down climate change is no mean feat. And Cleber says it's only by taking the right steps at the right time, that he'll have a chance of keeping his herd alive and healthy.

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Climate Crisis