Puerto Rico’s persistent drought is increasing local agricultural production costs, affecting crop and forage quality and availability, and putting pressure on the sector. The drought, which covers 80% of the territory, with 50% experiencing moderate drought, is becoming a structural crisis that is reconfiguring agricultural operations, driving up costs, and forcing producers to reassess their ability to sustain the country’s food chain.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has extended its projection of the drought until March, with some models predicting 18 to 24 months of dry conditions. Iván Cordero, representing the forage cultivation sector in the Asociación de Agricultores, warned that the drought is expected to persist, linked to the warming of the Pacific Ocean and the 'Super Niño' phenomenon.
In the Valle de Lajas, a major forage production area, the drought has been devastating, with over 30,000 cuerdas burned due to extreme heat, low humidity, and dead vegetation. The loss of fresh pastures has forced producers to cut dry material with no nutritional value, mixing it with concentrate to prevent animal weight loss, resulting in low-quality products and potentially higher consumer prices.