It is no longer a novelty to say that the drought is hitting with all its force in the Argentine territory. The third year of La Niña made itself felt dramatically, especially in the rural sector, where both agricultural and livestock production fell by alarming percentages.
According to the Drought Information System for the South of South America (Sissa), 54.48% of the national territory is affected by lack of rainfall.
However, the magnitude of the drought is different according to the different zones. 11.57% suffer from an exceptional drought; 7.43% an extreme drought; 14.39%, severe; 22.19%, moderate; and 8.9% is abnormally dry.
In Córdoba, only 2.03% of the territory managed to escape the drought; 0.46% suffer from extreme drought; 26.04%, severe; 54.24%, moderate and 17.24%, is abnormally dry.
“This drought has affected the core zone above all in recent months,” said Karina Flores, a member of the Central Climate Monitoring Directorate of the National Meteorological Service.
“Also, the downspout of the Paraná River two years ago was something that had never been seen in the last 50 or 60 years. All this is closely related to the lack of rain, first in the center of the La Plata Basin, and then it spread to the entire country as a result of La Niña, ”he explained.
The national situation is critical. The lack of water created a disturbing panorama in the provinces of Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Santa Fe and Entre Ríos, the area with the highest agro-industrial production.
After having lost a large part of the winter crops, mainly wheat and legumes, the early maize that could have been sown failed in a high percentage, the soybeans that were implanted try to survive and an important area is still waiting to be sown with maize. and late soybeans if any saving rain permits.
The damage to livestock (lack of pasture, dry watercourses, added to cost increases) is also eloquent.
The consequences will be seen in the short and medium term: meager harvests, lower supply of meat and milk, substantially reduced foreign currency income and revenue from agriculture, producers who will be left out of the game, among others.
The Rosario Stock Exchange estimates that 40% of the corn planted at an early date has already been lost in the core zone.
It is about 80,000 hectares that will leave losses of 1,500 dollars per hectare in rented fields and 780 dollars per hectare in own land.
12% of the late corn remains to be planted and due to the delay in tasks, the BCR estimates a 30% drop in production with losses of almost 350 dollars per hectare for rented fields.
In addition, there are more than 3 million hectares of prime soybeans in fair to poor condition in the region, and 200,000 hectares remain unplanted.
Drought: how are the rest of the provinces in the core zone?
Entre Ríos: 6.09% in extreme situation; 64.06% in severe drought; 29.28%, moderate; and 0.57% is abnormally dry.
Santa Fe: at 0.08% it is exceptional; in 9.03%, extreme; in 38.54%, severe; in 44.97% it is moderate, while 7.39% is abnormally dry.
Buenos Aires: 1.95% is going through an exceptional drought; 10.26% is in extreme drought; 18.14%, severe; 39.94%, moderate; and 16.43% are abnormally dry.
13.28% of the Buenos Aires area remained safe from the water deficit.