What investments are needed to address Central America's drought?

The drought currently gripping Central America is reported to be one of the worst seen in the previous half century, threatening local food supplies and, as a consequence, local populations.

The regional coordinator for the Global Water Partnership's Central America activities, Fabiola Tábora, talked to BNamericas about what the region should do, suggesting that authorities should focus "more on investments in infrastructure such as reservoirs."

"There's no irrigation infrastructure here now that allows water to be harvested or stored for subsequent use when these dry periods occur," she said.

BACKGROUND: CENTRAL AMERICA'S DRY CORRIDOR

Mostly in the central areas of Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and portions of Costa Rica lies an intersecting group of dry rainforests beginning in Mexico's Chiapas state and fringing the Pacific Ocean watershed, which is known as Central America's Dry Corridor.

It should be stated that the word drought does not necessarily mean that there is no rainfall. In the case of Central America, the lack of precipitation is mostly occurring on the Pacific side of the isthmus while the Atlantic side is receiving rain.

Given the disparity in rainfall, investments in reservoirs, water storage and even transfer of water from one area to another are most apt for the region, Tábora said.

And while the region's governments cooperate and maintain communication on the issue, a more structured, systematic approach is required, along with accompanying public policy, she added.

BEANS AND CORN

The lack of irrigation infrastructure and water storage capacity compounds an already difficult situation regarding food security.

In a period of drought the loss of Central America's primary food staples, corn and beans, can be even more devastating given that the region's production is not sufficient to supply consumption. This means that substantial imports must be made, which leaves distressed populations even more vulnerable to market conditions.

For example, this week El Salvador's government press secretary, Eugenio Chicas, said in a radio interview -largely in an effort to stem fears - that corn prices shouldn't increase despite a 32% loss in crops to date.

And while the concept of using treated water for irrigation purposes is an important issue, unfortunately the region does not yet have enough capacity to examine such measures, Tábora says. Such efforts would require significant improvements to water treatment, as well as the need to raise awareness of the potential of using treated water for agricultural purposes.