In the capital of Liberia, lawmakers have called on the government to present a strategy to safeguard farmers, food supplies and public health as the country enters its dry season under an El Niño that U.S. forecasters predict could be the strongest on record.
The House of Representatives has summoned the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Disaster Management Authority and the Ministry of Agriculture to explain how the administration plans to mitigate the expected heat and drought conditions.
El Niño events typically bring reduced rainfall and higher temperatures, which can threaten crop yields and water availability. The urgency of the request follows warnings from international weather services that the upcoming season may see record‑high temperatures across West Africa.
Government officials have yet to disclose a comprehensive action plan, but the inquiry underscores growing concerns among Liberian legislators about the potential impact on rural livelihoods and food security.
As the country prepares for the dry months, stakeholders will be watching to see whether the government can deliver concrete measures to protect the nation’s most vulnerable populations from the looming heat wave.
<small>Source: AllAfrica — read the original story there.</small>
