Tierra Verde Cooperatives Mobilize as Drought Stress Spreads

The Cooperative Council in San Vicente convened an emergency session on Thursday to address mounting reports of water shortages on member farms in the interior departments. Over the past six weeks, rainfall has fallen thirty percent below the seasonal average, leaving irrigation systems strained and groundwater levels declining faster than historical norms. The council voted to authorize emergency water-sharing protocols and to request additional funding from the Federal Office for Cooperative Affairs.

The drought stress is affecting coffee plantations, yerba mate groves, and organic crop operations across the region. Several cooperatives have already implemented water-rationing systems, prioritizing irrigation for perennial crops over annual plantings. The decision reflects a difficult calculus: which crops to sustain, which to sacrifice, and how long the water shortage might last.

Federal Interior Minister Tomás Vidal issued a statement acknowledging the situation and directing the Federal Office for Cooperative Affairs to fast-track emergency applications for supplemental irrigation funding. The minister did not announce specific amounts or timelines. Tierra Verde Assembly members are pressing Meridian for clarity on what federal support will be available and when it will arrive.