Huila faces agricultural losses and urban heat risks

The Huila department in Colombia is facing significant agricultural and urban challenges due to rising temperatures and the El Niño phenomenon. In agricultural sectors, cholupa production—a crop with protected designation of origin—is suffering from water scarcity and extreme heat reaching up to 39 °C. Arturo Pascuas Yañez, president of Asohofrucol, noted that high temperatures are causing pollen to crystallize, leading to flower abortion and a reduction in fruit availability.

Simultaneously, the city of Neiva is addressing increasing urban heat vulnerabilities. Technical studies conducted by the Universidad del Rosario, the Colombian Red Cross, and the American Red Cross indicate that densely populated areas with low vegetation cover are at high risk. A new Action Protocol for High Temperatures has been developed to assist with prevention and adaptation, emphasizing the need to integrate climate data into municipal land-use and risk management plans to protect vulnerable populations and local ecosystems.