Key facts
- The U.S. government declared a drought disaster for 26 municipalities in Puerto Rico.
- The declaration enables farmers and agricultural producers to apply for emergency loans.
- Over 33% of Puerto Rico is under extreme drought conditions.
- July was the driest month on record for San Juan in over 120 years.
- The drought is linked to the El Niño warming cycle.
The U.S. government has declared a drought disaster for more than two dozen cities and towns in Puerto Rico, as persistent dry conditions exacerbate water woes across the island. The declaration, announced Wednesday, covers 26 of Puerto Rico's 78 municipalities, including Cabo Rojo, Ponce, Yauco, Aibonito, and Lares.
This designation allows farmers and agricultural producers in the affected regions to access emergency loans. Governor Jenniffer González had formally requested the declaration from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, emphasizing the needs of local farmers. More than 33% of Puerto Rico is currently under extreme drought, with an additional 30% experiencing severe drought. July marked the driest month on record for San Juan in over 120 years and was also the second hottest for the capital.
Farmers like Naia Seda, who cultivates a 15-acre farm, have not seen rain since April, leading to deep cracks in her land and crops shriveling before ripening. The irrigation canal that serves her farm and hundreds of others in Lajas has had its water supply significantly reduced. Fello Pérez, a technical assistance provider for RAFI, noted that many farmers have been forced to halt production since May, with those growing fruits like coffee and plantains seeing their produce drop prematurely. Livestock farmers are also struggling to feed their animals, leading some to sell young bulls at low prices without buyers.
Puerto Rico's governor had previously declared a state of emergency in late July and activated the National Guard to address the dry conditions. Water rationing measures were implemented in August for over 180,000 customers in San Juan and six other cities, with large trucks distributing water, prioritizing hospitals and elderly residences. Meteorologists attribute the current drought to the El Niño warming cycle, which has also impacted the U.S. Virgin Islands, where a similar disaster declaration was made earlier this month. Beyond the drought, Puerto Rico faces ongoing water shortages due to crumbling infrastructure, a problem that prompted San Juan Mayor Miguel Romero to sue the island's Water and Sewer Authority in May.