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Some farmers in Honduras are finding ways to successfully adapt to climate change

In Central America, climate change is adding to the pressures that have pushed millions of people to migrate to the U.S. But some farmers in Honduras are successfully finding ways to adapt.

Since the start of 2021, U.S. immigration authorities have encountered more migrants from Honduras at the southern U.S. border than any country except Mexico, and climate change is one reason why.

That's apparent in the sudden devastation caused by two hurricanes that struck the country in late 2020, and also in the slow-moving catastrophe of erratic rainfall and drought that are undermining agriculture — a major blow for a country that historically relies on farming for subsistence.

Agriculture experts say farmers in Honduras will need to adapt to erratic rainfall patterns caused by climate change. That means a shift to new crops, new methods to conserve water, and more education about how to make it all work. But all of that requires investment, in a country that's one of the poorest in the Western Hemisphere.

Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

Joel Rose is a correspondent on NPR's National Desk. He covers immigration and breaking news.
Marisa Peñaloza is a senior producer on NPR's National Desk. Peñaloza's productions are among the signature pieces heard on NPR's award-winning newsmagazines Morning Edition and All Things Considered, as well as weekend shows. Her work has covered a wide array of topics — from breaking news to feature stories, as well as investigative reports.