Nepal and Guyana prepare contingency plans for Super El Niño

Governments in Nepal and Guyana are developing contingency plans to mitigate the risks posed by a potential ‘Super El Niño’ event.

In Nepal, the government has drafted a ‘Super El Niño National Contingency Plan’ to address threats such as drought, water shortages, reduced agricultural output, and decreased hydropower generation. The World Meteorological Organization has warned that strengthening El Niño conditions could lead to below-normal rainfall in South Asia. Under worst-case scenarios, Nepal could face a 30 percent reduction in monsoon rainfall, potentially putting over two million people at risk of food insecurity and cutting hydropower production by up to 50 percent.

In Guyana, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha announced that a comprehensive plan will be rolled out next week to manage expected dry conditions. The Ministry of Agriculture is monitoring water levels and advising farmers to conserve resources. The minister noted that dry conditions could extend into early 2027 and warned of potential saltwater intrusion in coastal creeks. To combat shortages, the ministry is utilizing water catchment areas and ponds established over the last two years to store water for use in both coastal and hinterland regions.