Living on the Edge of Climate Change
Walking through the Corridor of Concern
in Guatemala
Part 1 of 2
This is the first of a story series highlighting the challenges of the earth’s changing climate and its effect on the world’s poorest and most vulnerable.
In Guatemala, farmers count.
They count their healthy crops...
And their failures.
But most of all, they count their rain…because they count on it to survive. Without its reliable presence, there is only this.
Rain.
Too little. Too much. Too late.
Farmers in Central America’s Dry Corridor are trying to survive the ups and downs of rainfall fluctuations that are stealing food from their tables.
Experts are estimating that the Dry Corridor, which stretches from the eastern edge of Guatemala to the western edge of Mexico, has grown 25-30% over the past 10 years.
Experts are estimating that the Dry Corridor, which stretches from the eastern edge of Guatemala to the western edge of Mexico, has grown 25-30% over the past 10 years. It now makes up 45% of Guatemala.
Experts are estimating that the Dry Corridor, which stretches from the eastern edge of Guatemala to the western edge of Mexico, has grown 25-30% over the past 10 years. It now makes up 45% of Guatemala.
In the Dry Corridor, there’s been an extended drought. And because the Dry Corridor is growing, it’s impacting more people in Guatemala – people like Hugo, his wife and six children.
And people like Porfirio and his family.
It’s not so much that there’s less rain. It’s that it’s coming in shorter, more intense bursts.
“They are getting 100 millimeters of rain at a time, and then they are going 20 or 30 days without rain,” says Daniel McQuillan, head of agriculture for CRS Guatemala and Mexico. “And in some extreme cases, we’re seeing 45 days of dry weather, which no crop can resist.”
“They are getting 100 millimeters of rain at a time, and then they are going 20 or 30 days without rain,” says Daniel McQuillan, head of agriculture for CRS Guatemala and Mexico. “And in some extreme cases, we’re seeing 45 days of dry weather, which no crop can resist.”
“They are getting 100 millimeters of rain at a time, and then they are going 20 or 30 days without rain,” says Daniel McQuillan, head of agriculture for CRS Guatemala and Mexico. “And in some extreme cases, we’re seeing 45 days of dry weather, which no crop can resist.”
“They are getting 100 millimeters of rain at a time, and then they are going 20 or 30 days without rain,” says Daniel McQuillan, head of agriculture for CRS Guatemala and Mexico. “And in some extreme cases, we’re seeing 45 days of dry weather, which no crop can resist.”
You see, farmers like Porfirio and Hugo are on the edge.
“The maize and beans they’re growing aren’t for market. It is for their consumption and it needs to get them from May of one year to May of the next year. This is their main source of food for the entire year, and you’re talking about losing three-quarters of it,” says McQuillan.
“In many parts of the country, farmers really only have one main planting season. So they’re preparing for that all year long and they have that date circled on the calendar,” continues McQuillan.
“So they have their seed ready, they have their soils ready, and then they plant and the rain doesn’t come or comes three weeks late.”
“And once that seed is in the ground and there’s no water and no humidity, you’ve automatically lost your harvest right there. And what we’ve been seeing is that some families are losing upwards of 75% of their harvest,” he concludes.
“And once that seed is in the ground and there’s no water and no humidity, you’ve automatically lost your harvest right there. And what we’ve been seeing is that some families are losing upwards of 75% of their harvest,” he concludes.
Hugo is walking on that path of uncertainty right now.
He learned from his father, and now his family is relying on him for food. “I feel bad because there is not much to feed the patojos (children),” he says.
His corn is brown, withering in the field.
And this year, Hugo didn’t lose a little. He lost everything.
“Imagine if you lost four out of the past six years, if you didn’t get paid your salary,” says McQuillan. “This is really what some farmers are dealing with.”
“I’ve been working the land all my life. Last year, the drought did not give me anything. I planted my corn, but it did not give me anything. This year, as well, it gave me nothing. In June and July, there was no water to drink. Because the rain doesn’t come, there are no harvests. I want to see my children happy and I’m going to fight for them,” says Hugo.
Hugo’s fight includes working to protect and improve his soil.
And he’s growing crops that may be a bit more resistant to the erratic patterns that seem to be coming the new normal.
“Farmers have an even tougher job than they had before. Farming’s always been a difficult job,” says McQuillan.
"Imagine how many hats you wear as a farmer,” says McQuillan. "You’re deciding what you need to buy. You have to be strong in agronomy. You’re basically running a small business as well. And farmers are dealing with climate change. They’re dealing with pressures and problems they haven’t had to deal with before.”
"Imagine how many hats you wear as a farmer,” says McQuillan. "You’re deciding what you need to buy. You have to be strong in agronomy. You’re basically running a small business as well. And farmers are dealing with climate change. They’re dealing with pressures and problems they haven’t had to deal with before.”
“And they will tell you the climate is changing.”
Living on the Edge of Climate Change
Walking through the Corridor of Concern
in Guatemala
Part 1 of 2
Credits
Photography by Phil Laubner, CRS
Written by Rebekah Lemke, CRS
Produced by Robyn Fieser, CRS