Food & water
Reservoirs and Grain Banks Strengthen Drought Resilience in Central America’s Dry Corridor
In Central America’s Dry Corridor, where more than 7 million people lack guaranteed food access, the World Food Programme supports community reservoirs and grain banks that help families store water, diversify crops and keep staple grains nearby during El Niño‑driven droughts.
American Impact Alliance News Desk2 minute read
Escalating drought risk and anticipatory action
The Dry Corridor stretches across parts of Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua and is one of the region’s most drought‑prone zones. More than seven million residents lack guaranteed access to food, a situation that worsens when rainfall falls short. The World Meteorological Organization warns that the current El Niño episode may be unprecedented in strength, increasing the likelihood of below‑average precipitation. In response, the World Food Programme began issuing early warnings in April and provided cash assistance to over 409,000 people at risk. As conditions deteriorated, the agency expanded emergency food and cash distributions to more than 470,000 individuals across the corridor.
Community reservoir boosts farm diversity in Honduras
In the Honduran village of Palagua, farmer Anastacio Martínez Gómez contributed five manzanas (about 3.5 ha) for a community‑led reservoir, meeting the sole condition that locals provide the land. The water storage and irrigation system captures rain during the wet season and releases it during dry months, giving families a reliable source of water for crops. WFP‑supported training at the Zamorano agricultural school taught participants tilapia farming, plantain cultivation and efficient irrigation techniques. Since the reservoir’s completion, Martínez’s plot has shifted from a sole focus on maize and beans to a diversified mix that includes plantains, cassava, sweet potatoes, mango trees and fish ponds, enabling harvests in both rainy and dry periods.
Grain banks create a local safety net in Guatemala
In Camotán, Guatemala, the UN Central Emergency Fund financed a community grain bank that now serves roughly 200 families. The World Food Programme supplied the initial stock of maize and beans, which residents store in tall blue silos placed within walking distance of homes. The Food and Agriculture Organization contributed hens and agricultural tools, while the national Ministry of Agriculture provided vegetable seeds and the municipal government added fertilizer. By keeping grain locally, families avoid a one‑hour market trip that previously cost about 70 quetzales (around $9). The bank also encourages households to sell eggs to purchase other staples, fostering a more proactive approach to food security.