In Central America, climate change is adding to the pressures that have pushed millions of people to migrate to the U.S. But some farmers in Honduras are successfully finding ways to adapt.

Since the start of 2021, U.S. immigration authorities have encountered more migrants from Honduras at the southern U.S. border than any country except Mexico, and climate change is one reason why.

That's apparent in the sudden devastation caused by two hurricanes that struck the country in late 2020, and also in the slow-moving catastrophe of erratic rainfall and drought that are undermining agriculture — a major blow for a country that historically relies on farming for subsistence.

Agriculture experts say farmers in Honduras will need to adapt to erratic rainfall patterns caused by climate change. That means a shift to new crops, new methods to conserve water, and more education about how to make it all work. But all of that requires investment, in a country that's one of the poorest in the Western Hemisphere.

Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

300x250 Ad

Support quality journalism, like the story above, with your gift right now.

Donate