The devastating floods that have struck southern Brazil have taken a heavy toll on the region’s agricultural community, with many farmers like Edite de Almeida and her husband Joao Engelmann facing massive losses.
After three days of relentless rains, the floodwaters rose above Almeida’s head, forcing the family to flee their home and release their modest dairy herd to higher ground. The record-breaking floods in the state of Rio Grande do Sul have displaced over 500,000 people and claimed more than 160 lives.
The full extent of the agricultural losses is still being assessed, but the impact has been severe. Of Almeida’s 60 egg-laying hens, only 8 survived. Their cows have no place to graze in the inundated landscape. Nearby, fields of rice and vegetables have been completely washed away.
Engelmann has been making daily treks on foot, by tractor, and by boat to bring whatever food he can find to the surviving livestock. He returns soaked each night after helping neighbors haul away deceased animals and tend to the survivors.
According to an analysis by consultancy Terra Analytics, nearly 6,500 family farms have been flooded in the region. The damage has disrupted soy harvesting, destroyed silos, and killed over 400,000 chickens. The government is now planning to import rice to help offset the impact on national inflation.
The washed-out farms and roads around the state capital Porto Alegre have contributed to food and water shortages, exacerbating the crisis affecting over 2 million people.
Some areas of the state have seen more than 700 mm (28 inches) of rain so far this month – more than London’s average rainfall in an entire year. As the floodwaters recede, farmers like Almeida are confronting the devastation, with their homes, appliances, and belongings coated in mud.
“I can’t think about the future. That belongs to God,” Almeida said, grimacing through tears. “I don’t expect to have again what I had before. We’re starting over.”
The flood-battered farmers of southern Brazil face a long road to recovery, as they grapple with the immense losses to their livelihoods and homes in the wake of this climate-intensified disaster.