Weathering Unpredictable Rains in Nicaragua
In the small community of Las Jolotas, Nicaragua, subsistence farmers like Felicita (pictured above) and her son Ariel feel the impact of climate change. Ever since Hurricane Mitch in 1998, rainfall patterns have grown increasingly unpredictable.
Some years the rains fall late; other years the rains fall too hard. If the rains arrive late, seeds die without producing any harvest. If the rains cause flooding, seeds are swept away. Farmers in Las Jolotas save just enough seeds from the previous harvest to plant during the next rainy season. If those seeds are lost, the results are devastating.
In Felicita’s community, rainfall patterns have become so unpredictable that many have stopped planting during the rainy season, choosing instead to migrate to El Salvador, Costa Rica, or even the United States.
Global climate change is already impacting those who are most vulnerable. According to a recent United Nations report, stronger storms and changing weather patterns seriously impact 325 million people annually. ELCA World Hunger is committed to sustainable development work that takes the reality of climate change seriously and supports those who are affected.
To support Felicita and her family as they tried to adapt to the effects of climate change,
The Lutheran World Federation—working with the
Faith and Hope Lutheran Church of Nicaragua—dug a shallow well. The water from the well is gravityfed to irrigate crops during the dry season. Thanks to the well and Felicita’s hard work, her lush garden—full of beans, corn, squash, tomatoes, and yuca—thrives in the middle of summer. Felicita will use the garden to feed her family and small farm animals. If there are leftover vegetables, she will sell them for added income.
The well protects Felicita and her family from uncertain weather patterns. In turn, the increased food security ensures that they will have enough to eat. They will not have to
migrate to faraway places, disrupting and perhaps ending Ariel’s schooling. Together, they can confidently face a brighter future.
Your gifts to ELCA World Hunger support The Lutheran World Federation and Faith and Hope Lutheran Church of Nicaragua, an ELCA companion church. Together, we support sustainable development work in places like Nicaragua to help people adapt to the realities of a changing environment.—David Creech is director for hunger education, ELCA World Hunger