In Bolivia’s highlands, a crop emergency is unfolding and pushing families to the brink of hunger. The potato crop in particular is now under threat in the region due to recent erratic weather patterns and changing climate conditions.
Over the past few months, Bolivia, like much of South America, has been sweltering under a “heat dome”, causing temperatures in the country to soar to a staggering 45°C, which is unprecedented during the winter. In August, Bolivia recorded the highest winter temperature in the Southern Hemisphere.
Severe drought in Potosí, of the six of Bolivia’s departments experiencing drought, has reduced water flow by a third, dropping from 180 litres per second to a mere 60 litres per second. The lack of rain and access to water have meant that farmers are unable to water their crops.
Source: reliefweb.int
