Data or statistical facts on the situation and perspectives of agri-food systems and the impact of policies
Approximately 15% was the decline in crop production caused by the drought, while about 70% of farmers depend on rainfall for productive activity.
El Salvador's fourth meteorological drought period of 2026 extended from September 5 to September 20 and ended after rainfall recorded on September 20 and 21. The episode reached moderate drought conditions at monitoring stations in La Unión department.
1.7 million new internal displacements caused by disasters were recorded in 2024 in Brazil, Cuba, Colombia, Haiti and Ecuador alone, according to the 2025 Global Report on Internal Displacement cited by the source.
83% of disasters in Latin America and the Caribbean are related to climate hazards, but only 6% of the regional risk-management budget is allocated to preventing future risks and 16% to reducing existing risks.
19 people, mostly women farmers, operate the Community Hydroclimatic Monitoring Network in southern Ahuachapán, El Salvador; during Tropical Storm Julia, an alert issued after more than six hours of rain enabled vulnerable families to evacuate two hours before the rivers overflowed, with no loss of life.
As of September 22, 2026, 58% of U.S. cattle, 57% of sheep, 57% of hay and 58% of alfalfa hay were located in areas experiencing moderate or more intense drought (D1+).
As of September 22, 2026, 86% of U.S. sugarcane and 61% of sugarbeets were located in areas experiencing moderate or more intense drought (D1+). For sugarcane, the share increased by 83 percentage points from a year earlier.
As of September 22, 2026, the share located in areas experiencing moderate or more intense drought (D1+) reached 80% for rice, 68% for sorghum, 66% for barley, 58% for winter wheat and 52% for spring wheat in the United States.
Between September 2025 and September 2026, the share located in areas experiencing moderate or more intense drought (D1+) increased by 83 percentage points for sugarcane, 65 for sunflowers, 60 for sorghum, 39 for spring wheat and 34 for cattle.
El Salvador recorded four meteorological drought periods between June and September 2026. The first lasted 20 days, the second reached up to 22 consecutive dry days and severe drought conditions, the third extended for 28 days and also reached severe conditions, while the fourth reached moderate drought conditions.
