Brava: Farmers Consider the Agricultural Year a Loss, and Ranchers Are Concerned About the Lack of Pasture

In the island’s main agricultural areas, the lack of rainfall has hampered crop growth and left farmers concerned about whether they will be able to earn any income from this year’s harvest.

Speaking to Inforpress, farmer António Gomes described the situation as “very concerning,” explaining that the work carried out at the start of the growing season did not yield the expected results due to the lack of rain.

“We prepared the fields, planted the seeds, and did everything within our power, but without rain, there’s no way to produce a crop. At this point, we’re already considering the agricultural year practically a lost cause,” he lamented.

The farmer pointed out that, in addition to crop losses, many producers incurred expenses for seeds, land preparation, and labor, with no guarantee of a return on their investment.

A similar situation is reported by farmer Maria Mendes, who says that erratic rainfall is leaving producers “with no alternatives.”

“Farming in Brava depends heavily on rain. When it doesn’t come at the right time, all the work is compromised. This year we’ve seen practically none of our plants sprout, and we no longer have much hope of saving the harvest,” she said.

The farmer warned that the consequences of the poor harvest may be felt in the coming months, especially among families who rely on agriculture to supplement their income and secure part of their food supply.

The situation is also a concern for livestock farmers, who are struggling to find enough pasture to feed their cattle.

Livestock farmer João Mendes explained that the lack of rain is significantly reducing the availability of pasture, forcing producers to resort to buying feed and other food to sustain their animals.

“This year, there hasn’t even been enough rain for pasture. The animals need to eat every day, and when there’s no pasture, we have to buy feed, which means more expenses for the farmer,” he said.

The rancher fears that, if the drought persists, the difficulties will increase, especially among small-scale producers, who have fewer financial resources to buy feed for their animals.

“We’re worried because we don’t know what the coming months will bring. If it doesn’t rain, we’ll have even more trouble feeding the animals and keeping our herds,” he added.

Farmers and ranchers are calling on authorities to closely monitor the situation and strengthen support measures for affected families, particularly in the areas of agriculture, water availability, and animal feed.

DM/JMV

Inforpress/end