El Niño Threatens Global Grain Supply with Increased Drought Risk
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has issued a warning about the potential impact of the developing El Niño on global agriculture. This climatic event is expected to heighten drought risks across several vulnerable regions, including Southern Africa, the Sahel, South and Southeast Asia, Central America, and the Caribbean. The FAO's analysis, based on 41 years of satellite imagery, indicates a greater than 50% probability of agricultural drought in these areas. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has confirmed the development of El Niño in the tropical Pacific, predicting it will intensify to a moderate or strong level by autumn. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has also urged governments and climate-sensitive sectors to prepare for the event, which is likely to continue until at least November. 
