How I lost my entire livelihood to El Nino once—and am fighting back this time
Drought returns to Honduras
Rodríguez says she knows from experience what a powerful El Niño can mean for farmers. In 2023, drought killed her entire cattle herd despite her efforts to keep the animals alive.
Now drought alerts are in place in 233 of Honduras’s 298 municipalities, including red alerts in more than 100. A severe shortage of rain is damaging crops and leaving livestock without enough food and water, with drought expected to continue into next year.
Water transformed her farm
For years, Rodríguez carried water over long distances for her animals. Two loans enabled her to finance a well and irrigation system, which she says changed both her farm and her life.
The water supply helps her maintain her cattle and grow milk, chilli peppers and corn. She is also starting a pig-farming project and has begun beekeeping, with support from Heifer International, which is also providing cattle feed.
Building a future for women
Rodríguez says the farm has helped her raise and educate her children and build a legacy. She challenges the belief that only men can succeed in this work, pointing to women’s strength and determination.
She credits community support, training and organisations such as Heifer International with helping women build resilience before drought strikes. She also encourages women farmers to support one another as longer-lasting El Niños threaten livelihoods.
Prepare before disaster strikes
Rodríguez argues that farmers cannot keep starting from zero as climate shocks become more frequent. She says governments across the region need plans to support farmers before disasters, alongside partners who understand conditions on the ground.
Irrigation changed her farm, she says, and women farmers across Honduras deserve the chance to keep building their livelihoods and legacies. Her farmers’ group, she says, shows how infrastructure, training and support can be extended to more women.
Key points
- Drought alerts cover 233 of Honduras’s 298 municipalities, with red alerts in more than 100.
- Rodríguez lost her cattle to drought in 2023 and says similar conditions have returned.
- Loans helped her build a well and irrigation system, supporting a more diverse farm.
- She calls for investment and support for farmers before disasters strike.