Cape Verde predicts less rain in 2025 and warns farmers to prepare for possible drought

Cape Verde's National Institute of Meteorology and Geophysics (INMG) announced this week that rainfall in 2025 is expected to be lower than in 2024, warning families who depend on rainfed agriculture to take precautionary measures in the face of a rainfall shortage scenario.

At a press conference held in Praia, the executive administrator of the INMG, Denise de Pina, said that the seasonal forecast points to a "deficit" in rainfall this year. Between July and September, the period that corresponds to the main agricultural campaign in the country, an average of 244 millimeters of precipitation is estimated, with long periods of drought at the beginning and end of the season.

"The situation is worrying," said De Pina, stressing that despite advances in irrigation systems in some areas, the majority of Cape Verdean agriculture still depends directly on rainwater. "Families need access to this information, because they invest, buy seeds and hire labor. If the forecast isn't favorable, they need to know whether it's worth going ahead or not," he added.

As mitigation strategies, the INMG advises farmers to diversify the types of crops, betting on both short and long cycle plants, or alternating varieties, as a way of guaranteeing some yield, even in adverse conditions.

In addition to the low rainfall, the country may face extreme phenomena with above-average winds, including tropical storms, intense rainfall, strong winds and rough seas, which could hit the archipelago with varying intensities throughout the season.

To deal with the growing challenges of water scarcity, the government of Cape Verde is reinforcing structural measures. Among the actions underway are the installation of two desalination units, the result of an agreement with Hungary worth 35 million euros, and the safe reuse of treated wastewater for agricultural and environmental purposes.

The authorities have also stepped up the monitoring of the quality and quantity of water extracted from wells and boreholes, warning of the risk of over-exploitation of groundwater, especially in years of drought.

Weather forecasts will be updated monthly until the end of the rainy season, allowing for adjustments to agricultural strategies and public water management policies.