The last weeks of the year, and until March 2019, will be marked by water shortages in Puntarenas and Guanacaste as a result of the El Niño phenomenon.
The government authorities presented the Interinstitutional Contingency Plan, with a budget of ₡ 5.2 billion, to mitigate the effects of El Niño Southern Oscillation phenomenon that will affect -with droughts but also with floods- a large part of the territory. Affectation is expected in the Central Valley and the cantons of Guatuso, Los Chiles and Upala.
Work tables were set up to create a strategy of attention in vulnerable places in in areas of health, agro-food, environment, water supply for human consumption, road infrastructure and rainwater.
The areas that will be affected are the following:
-Severe rainfall deficit (North Pacific)
-Moderate water deficit (Central and South Pacific)
-Deficit and excess rainfall (North Zone)
-Excess of rains (Caribbean)
-Deficit of rains (Central Valley)
The Minister of Agriculture, Renato Alvarado, recommended the sector to follow recommendations to protect agricultural products, including adaptation for farms and producers, animal feed, animal health, economic assistance, and agricultural phytosanitary surveillance.
Historically, Guanacaste has been one of the most affected provinces by the drought; in 2015, the water deficit was 45%, and San José reported temperatures of 30.8 degrees in December.