Across large parts of Africa, drought is a reality that farmers will have to face in the coming months.
In Kenya, for example, maize yields are expected to be 28% below normal this year, following a recent "extremely poor rainfall performance", according to the Famine Early Warning Systems Network.
Meanwhile, the rapidly developing 'Godzilla El Niño' is set to wreak havoc in southern Africa towards the end of this year and into 2027. Countries like Zimbabwe, where the rainy season usually begins in October, are preparing for a huge increase in grain imports amid an expected collapse in local production.
Even outside El Niño years, drought is becoming an increasingly common event, especially in southern Africa and across large parts of the Sahel and the Horn of Africa.
Originally published by African Business.