Drought

Honduras's agricultural science agency is strengthening the genetic traits of corn, rice, and beans to improve their resilience to drought and climate-change impacts.

Small-scale rancher Rolando Pastrana of Morolica, Choluteca, has lost six cattle to extreme heat and lack of water and feed, burning the carcasses to prevent contamination, as drought-stricken families in the area wait for rain with no government aid in sight.

Agriculture Minister Moisés Molina says no cattle deaths have been reported from the ongoing drought affecting 75 municipalities, though he acknowledged that poor preparation and lack of feed—compounded by the dry spell—are causing animal losses in some areas.

Agriculture Minister Moisés Molina warned that Honduras faces a prolonged dry season exceeding two months due to El Niño, threatening grain production and food security, though the government has allocated 1.5 billion lempiras in production incentives and will provide technical support to farmers.

Honduras has mobilized a $70 million humanitarian assistance plan, coordinated with the UN and COPECO, to support roughly 800,000 people affected by drought across the country.

Honduras's emergency agency Copeco widened its drought alert from 60 to 75 municipalities across six departments, warning that El Niño conditions could extend dry spells for weeks and are already straining water supplies and threatening crops and livestock in the dry corridor.

Cattle are dying across a 75-municipality drought zone in southern Honduras as farmers and ranchers, who counted on rains in May, struggle without water or fodder and wait for government aid.

The government has placed 75 municipalities on green alert and 144 under observation, coordinating water distribution, food aid, agricultural support, and preventive health measures through SINAGER to protect communities from an approaching dry season.