In Guatemala, agriculture is the main source of income and sustenance for farmers and city folk. When there are months of drought it causes crops to shrink or not grow at all. Unpredictable storms and hurricanes cause the crops to drown in water and mud from the hills of Western Guatemala. Then back again to heavy drought and dryness which is a non-stop cycle for most farmers. Extreme storms and drought are the main two causes from climate change for Guatemalan farmers. ⅕ One fifth of Guatemalan’s population suffer from food shortage due to having failing crops, even children are affected. Half the children of Guatemala under 5 years old are undernourished. Farmers are forced to migrate out of the country in order to pay off debts and send money back to their families in order to feed them. Guatemala’s industry is tied to agriculture but climate change has affected the country commercially. Agriculture being the main revenue for the nation’s economy, the population has taken a toll and seen an increase of poverty, unemployment, bad living conditions, and much more. Climate change has adversely impacted Guatemala’s tourism. Since the county is more prone to wildfires due to the high drought and dryness, severe storms can cause traveler’s trips to cancel or be cut short. Floods and mudslides also effect tourism.
Guatemala is located near a seismic zone that is currently highly active that means earthquakes and Tsunamis are more likely to occur. Guatemala has a ton of active volcanoes all around the country which can erupt at any time and it has happened where flights are delayed due to the falling ashes. Guatemala is a beautiful place to visit. I have gone by myself a couple times throughout the years, I have faced some of these climate impacts but my family already knows the protocols in case these happen, so most of the time I’m safe.
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Programs should be in place to assist fight the calamities brought on by erratic storms, hurricanes, and severe drought seasons. Natural catastrophes cannot be stopped, and it is impossible to predict how much harm they will wreak, but we can learn how to deal with them. Education in agriculture may assist farmers in learning how to properly cultivate and manage their crops in adverse conditions. They will be able to raise crops with this knowledge to feed their family and perhaps even their neighbors.