South African Dairy Area: Worst Drought in 130 Years

The worst drought in 130 years is hitting the usually productive dairy farm area along South Africa’s southwest coast.  The area is responsible for one-quarter of South Africa’s milk production.  The drought is so severe that farmers are paying to ship fodder from other areas instead of normally growing it themselves.

[Link:www.bloomberg.com]

Drought Hits Venezuela

Drought conditions in Venezuela have left reservoirs at critically-low levels, forcing the government to conduct rolling cuts to water service for periods of up to 48 hours, which will extend into the first quarter of 2010.  The water rationing began on Monday and its effects will not only be felt in households, but in schools as well.  In fact, the only places guaranteed around-the-clock water are hospitals.  The Venezuelan government blames weather patterns for the drought, but critics of Hugo Chavez say poor infrastructure planning has contributed to the conditions.

[Link:edition.cnn.com]

90 Percent of Argentina in a Drought

90 percent of the country of Argentina is affected by a drought, according to the South American Climatology Lab. Some cities and tourist destinations have decided to begin rationing drinking water, while others have had no rainfall for seven months and, in one area, no rain has fallen since February. Forest fires have also ravaged parts of the area, which has only aggravated an already bad situation.

http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/enviornment/drought-affects-90-percent-of-argentina_100268731.html

Despite Rain, Austin in Historically High Drought

Despite plenty of downpours already this autumn, the city of Austin, Texas, is still considered to be in a historically-high drought.  The city implemented stage two water restrictions on August 19th, which severely restricts water usage for lawns, ornamental fountains and even drinking water at restaurants.  Over the past 20 months, the area of Central Texas faced an incoming water shortfall of about 1.5 million acre-feet.

[Link:www.dailytexanonline.com]

Sri Lanka City Hit By Drought

The city of Kataragama, a sacred city in Sri Lanka, has been hit by a severe drought. According to the article, the chena cultivation and paddy fields have been destroyed because of the lack of expected rain, which has pushed the entire region into a severe drought. Drinking water has also become scarce as the Menik River has dried up. This is the second severe drought suffered in Kataragama this year.

http://www.colombopage.com/archive_091/Oct1256563154RA.html

Ethiopia Appeals for Food Aid Amid Drought

A five-year drought has affected more than 23 million people in seven east African nations. According to Mitiku Kassa, Ethiopia’s State Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, “As a result, the number of people needing emergency assistance during the period Oct.-Dec. 2009 has increased to 6.2 million from 4.9 million at beginning of the year.” He is asking for 159,410 tons of food, 11 tons of fortified blended food and $45 million in non-food needs.

http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSLM526117

Texas in One of Worst Droughts on Record

Governor Rick Perry of Texas has declared a state of disaster as a long-term drought threatens the existence of livestock due to a shortage of forage and hay. Agricultural Commissioner Todd Staples remarked on the drought, “The drought has done more than dry up our land and evaporate our reservoirs; it also has destroyed thousands of acre of hay resources for producers who raise cattle, goats and horses.” The drought, to date, has been estimated to have cost the state’s agricultural industry approximately $3.6 billion in losses.

http://www.examiner.com/x-1109-Dallas-Environmental-Policy-Examiner~y2009m10d19-Governor-Perry-Long-term-Texas-drought-threat-to-livestock

Drought Continues in Central, Southern China

A drought continues to plague central and southern Chinese provinces as a lack of rain since August has caused a severe lack of water. Water levels in the Ganjiang River are at a record low, and dozens of cargo ships are stranded in the low waters. Rainfall amounts in the region are less than half of normal, and more than three million people are facing drinking water shortages.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-10/20/content_12273519.htm

Drought Forces 100,000 Iraqis from Homes

A four-year drought has forced more than 100,000 Iraqis to flee their homes since 2005. Excessive pumping, combined with the drought, have forced the shutdown of many of the ancient aqueducts, with only about 1/6 of them remaining operational. 36,000 more people are on the verge of leaving and entire communities have abandoned their homes. In the village of Jafaron, 44 of its 52 underground aqueducts have run dry since 2008, leaving 114 hectacres of irrigated land barren.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h_tlOUXLDDpBXsDxe2lgBa-vZCtQD9BA9UA80

East Africa Drought Fuels Food Crisis

The worst drought in over a decade is fueling a food crisis in east Africa. In the north east of Kenya, rain hasn’t fallen in three years, causing an arid landscape littered with the carcasses of dead livestock. Over 28 million people face food shortages in this area of the country, and a local hospital in the town of Wajir is full of severely malnourished infants, their mothers unable to produce milk because of a shortage of food. Food prices are soaring, with a sack of maize now costing four times as much as usual in terms of bartering.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/East-Africa-Crisis-Tens-of-Millions-Face-Severe-Food-Shortages-After-Worst-Drought-In-Years/Article/200910215403772?lpos=World_News_Third_Home_Page_Article_Teaser_Region__8&lid=ARTICLE_15403772_East_Africa_Crisis%3A_Tens_of_Millions_Face_Severe_Food_Shortages_After_Worst_Drought_In_Years

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