Water crisis in Bahia, Brazil is a warning of impacts on the economy

The emergency situation due to the severe drought that is plaguing Bahia worries the State Agriculture and Livestock Federation (FAEB), which warns of alarming consequences in the agricultural and livestock sectors. With 131 municipalities in a critical situation and enormous challenges due to the lack of rain, the crisis is already resulting in significant damage to job creation and could directly impact the increase in prices of essential items in the basic food basket, such as milk, coffee and meat. The Semi-Arid Region, covering most of the state's territory, is the most affected, recording thousands of livestock deaths due to lack of food and water. Furthermore, the production of fruits, corn and other agricultural products is suffering considerable losses, especially in Western Bahia, a vital region for the state's exports and generating thousands of direct and indirect jobs. According to FAEB economic data, informal milk production has declined by more than 50%, while ...