Eva Holupchinski
Published: 2018
Total Pages: 2
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Of the many climate events that threaten agricultural production in the region, increasing drought is one of the most devastating. The agricultural sector is typically the first to feel the impacts of drought, since the majority of crops in the U.S. Caribbean are rainfed. Drought conditions can quickly lead to reduced crop yield, desiccation, and crop losses island-wide, unlike other hazards such as floods and landslides that occur on a much smaller scale. As the climate changes, droughts in the U.S. Caribbean are projected to become more frequent and intense. Implementing the use of cover crops, water retention ponds, and drought tolerant varieties can help reduce the impacts of drought.