Portugal suffers through its worst drought in 80 years

March 4, 2012 – PORTUGAL – After Portugal’s driest February in 80 years, farmers are praying for a miracle as drought ravages pastures and sparks forest fires, exacerbating the country’s economic crisis. Worse still, official forecasters expect the freak weather pattern to prevail at least through the end of March, which would worsen a drought now classified as severe and extreme throughout mainland Portugal. Aside from the yet-unassessed impact on trade and GDP, the situation is likely to further strain limited financial resources just as Portugal is cutting spending to meet the tough terms of its 78-billion euro bailout from the European Union and International Monetary Fund. The country’s last major drought in 2005 cost the country almost 300 million euros ($400 million). In the parched southern Alentejo region – the country’s poorest – villagers in several places are already holding Novenas, acts of religious devotion at which prayers are recited and sung for nine nights in a row to obtain divine intervention. Pedro Mestre, a teacher in the village of Sete, is one of those who have been praying and singing the Novena alongside local farmers. “Dry, cold weather at night and heat during the day destroy the crops – grain, tomatoes, vines, orchards. People become desperate and resort to things they believe can bring relief.” Their only reward was a light drizzle on Thursday, not even enough to humidify the soil. The sun shone again on Friday. “The rain just sprinkled the surface; the Novena goes on,” said Mestre. “Also, there are no pastures for the cattle anymore due to the drought, while normally they last till April. If it continues this way cattle will start dying.” The National Agriculture Confederation, a farming union, last month criticized the government for “underestimating the seriousness of the situation and not outlining extraordinary measures” to help farmers who have to pay more for irrigation and animal fodder. –Reuters

contribution by Mahati