Global food crisis: Climate change endangers Guatemala's food security

Smallholders are finding their staple crops under threat as rains have been accompanied by increasingly violent storms, followed by prolonged drought

A view of corn crop ruined by drought, in Baja Verapaz, Guatemala. Changing climate is compromising food security in the country. Photograph: Daniel Leclair/Reuters

The impact of global warming is having an impact on food security in many developing countries. Research predicts that climate change will have further devastating consequences over the next 20 years as crop yields in some regions decline dramatically. Wheat yields may fall by more than 20% in Brazil, for example, while maize production in central and West Africa may fall by more than 10%, it says. In Guatemala, climate change has affected small landholders dramatically in the last two years. The country is particularly vulnerable to climate change and extreme events, because of its geographical position in an earthquake and hurricane zone. The experience of 260 families living on the settlement of Guadalupe in the Suchitepquez region of the Pacific coast lost much of their staple crop last year and the year before. There is more rain in winter now, and the rains that used to come in April now only come towards the end of May. Rains have recently been accompanied by violent storms, followed by prolonged drought. Deforestation and diversion of rivers by plantation owners producing food or biofuel for export have made the problems worse.

Small landholders have had to switch harvesting seasons from winter to summer so the young plants have a better chance of survival, but that means irrigating and using seeds that are more resistant to drought. Farmers need help and training to adapt, but this is the sort of help that has been cut from many developing countries' government spending. This is because the governments are under pressure from the financial institutions around the world. Marta Domingo, explained as the rains, late again this year, hammered thunderously on the tin roof of her office. "The climate has changed," she said. "For the last two years we have lost 30% of our maize and been forced to buy from the market just when prices were so high. We are surrounded by big plantations of palm, sugar and banana, and they have deforested and diverted the rivers. My grandparents used to say the birds sing to bring the rain, but there aren't many birds any more." Domingo, like many of the women in the village, has struggled at times to feed her six children, despite having a little land and growing okra that she exports through a local trader. As food prices have increased internationally, more and more of the family income is taken up with basic needs. Maria Transito, another mother in the village, also described the impact of recent extreme weather on the family harvest. In previous years she and her husband have been able to harvest 26 sacks of maize from their small plot of land, providing enough for the family and a bit to spare for income. This year they have only managed to produce five sacks. "We planted the seeds but the rain came and destroyed them. We have to spend $100 a month on maize now, and yes, there are times when we go hungry. The trees used to 'call' the water, but I think nature is angry now," she said.

Adapted from Global food crisis: Climate change imperils Guatemala's food security (Accessed on-line at http://www.guardian.co.uk/globaldevelopment/poverty-matters/2011/may/31/global-food-crisis-guatemalaclimate-change?INTCMP=SRCH)