EnvironmentThe Environment Agency lets eligible winter licence holders abstract water through October and simplifies longer-term licences, with many reservoirs under half full after a sixth dry month this year.
EnvironmentLaunching a Call to Action at World Forest Week in Rome, FAO said dryland forests that support more than two billion people are under-recognised and under-financed, and proposed a Dryland Forest Support Accelerator.
Small-scale livestock farmers in the Northern Cape town received maize, pellets and protein supplements as drought dries up grazing and water, with Khobab Wind's community programme backing the support.
EnvironmentWith three-quarters of the state's tehsils declared drought-hit, the government will fund village employment on water conservation, irrigation and farm infrastructure, and weighs water supply cuts.
CropsTeagasc's first look at harvest 2026 finds drought-hit yields did most damage to tillage margins, even though Irish grain prices rose about 20 euro a tonne.
WorldUnicef says 25.8 million children in Latin America, one in seven, face growing risks from droughts and floods brought by a record El Nino, with harvest losses raising malnutrition risk in Central America.
CropsConservation, careful diversions and 60,000 acre-feet of mitigation water from groundwater pumpers kept deliveries going toward mid-October despite a one-third cut in May.
CropsThe Department of Agriculture counts 223,214 farmers and 249,028 hectares affected in 14 of 18 regions, and warns losses will rise as a very strong El Nino is forecast from October.
FisheriesAn air sac that lets it breathe air, aestivation in burrows, a thick mucus coat and storing waste as urea instead of ammonia carry the stinging catfish through drought.
CropsWeather service and SADC outlooks favour below-normal rain and above-normal temperatures from October, but past El Nino years show strength alone does not decide the season.
CropsSeasonal rain in Dhule's Sakri taluka was near normal, but it went without rain on 67 days between 1 June and 11 September; the state has declared 265 of its 358 talukas drought-hit.
EnvironmentWater managers expect Wickiup Reservoir to drop to about 20,000 acre-feet this fall after a severe drought, as North Unit Irrigation District farmers endure an eighth year of reduced water allotments.
EnvironmentNearly half of Ambesavali village in Maharashtra's Beed district has left to find work as drought follows the October 2025 floods; the state has declared drought in 265 of its talukas.
