It was transformed into one of the main agricultural regions of Argentina and now the drought is wreaking havoc in the crops

At the request of the Rural Society of the Northeastern Santiago, the consulting firm of Agriculture and Precision and Digital Livestock Characterization of the area affected by drought In the east of the province of Santiago del Estero and the results are catastrophic.

According to the work, the 24-25 campaign presented an November with rains above the average (127 vs 91mm) accumulating 251mm between the months of September and December. Starting the campaign with profiles between 50 and 70% useful water. Although the following months of December, January and February and at the time elapsed by the month of March, rainfall was recorded below the average. Accumulating 186 mm from January to March versus 433 mm on average for the same period. In March there was no rains.

While the maximum temperatures and minINas registered during the first quarter of 2025 are above the average with registered values ​​of up to 47 ° C. In addition, these were presented with many consecutive days with maximum temperatures above 35 ° C. The month of February accumulate 14 days with temperatures greater than 40 ° C and 2 days above 45 ° C versus an average of 6 days.

Given this context, in Santiago del Estero There are 1.8 million hectares in the category of high drought and 3 million hectares in severe mainly concentrated in the departments Moreno, Alberdi, Copo, Figueroa and Juan Felipe Ibarra. On average, Santiago del Estero has 58% of the surface relieved in the severe category and 35% high. While in Chaco the proportion of surface in severe category is 71% and high of 18%.

The surface percentages by drought range vary per department. In the Moreno department, 64% of the surface relieved in a category of severe drought followed by the high drought category with 31%.

The climatic situation in Quimilí, located in the Moreno department, is critical. The drought that affects the region has generated important losses in the crops and is hitting livestock hard.

Marcelo Herasimchuk, president of the Rural Society of Quimilí, explained that the prognosis for the year indicated an “girl to neutral” event, with encouraging rains in spring. However, The situation changed dramatically in the summer. “In December, the rainy record was 75 mm against an average of 115 mm. In January, only 32 mm fell, when the average is 113 mm. In February, 75 mm were recorded in some areas, but in others it directly did not rain, with an expected average of 105 mm. In March, the situation was aggravated even more because it did not rain at all,” he explained.

Besides, The extreme heat wave further complicated production. “We had 14 consecutive days with more than 40 ° C and 2 days above 45 ° C. The normal thing in the summer is to have about 6 days with those temperatures,” said Heimimchuk.

This combination of climatic factors has caused the total loss of some crops, while others still resist, although with irreversible damage to performance. “The corn pollination stage coincided with drought and high temperatures, which directly affects the fertilization of the grain. We are now in a second evaluation stage to quantify the losses,” he explained.

Quimilí has ​​passed in recent years of being a Purely livestock zone to consolidate as one of the most important regions in corn and soy production. “The Moreno department became the third corn producer nationwide and the fourth in soybeans,” said the leader.

The planting date in the north of the country begins around December 15 and extends until the first days of January. “Until last year, it was sown a little later, even at the end of January. But in the last campaign, the chicharite greatly affected the late corn, so this year it was tried to sow earlier, during the first days of December, to avoid damage to pests and diseases,” he explained. Crop rotation in the region remains at 50% grasses and 50% soybeans, with wheat only in moist autumn.

The average rainfall in the area, based on records of the last 108 years, is 700 mm per yearbut most of the rainfall are concentrated in the summer. “This is what makes agriculture sustainable in our area. If we only depend on soybeans, the yields would fall dramatically and, being far from the ports, we could not compete,” said Herasimchuk.

In the last two decades, the average yields have been 2,700 kilos per hectare in soybeans, with 4,000 kilos peaks, and 8,000 to 9,000 kilos in corn. However, climatic and health difficulties are affecting production. “Last year the chicharrita complicated us and now we faced this drought. The situation is very difficult, Not only for the producer, but also because of the impact it has on the economy of the peoples, “he warned.

Although agriculture has gained land, livestock remains a key sector in the region. However, drought seriously affects the activity. “In the Moreno department there are more than 600,000 hectares dedicated to agriculture. But the livestock sector also suffers, and this is the fourth consecutive year of drought,” explained the president of the Rural Society of Quimilí.

The lack of corn and pastures has forced many producers to part with their hacienda in unfavorable conditions. “As long as there is corn, the farmer can supplement with grain and fight it. But if there are no corn or pastures, there is no other than selling animals, and doing so in poor condition is never good business. The skinny cow is not worth much,” he lamented.