US declares drought disaster for parts of Puerto Rico as dry conditions persist

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- The U.S. government announced a drought disaster on Wednesday for more than two dozen cities and towns in Puerto Rico as water woes deepen across the U.S. territory, with no relief in sight.More than 33% of Puerto Rico is under extreme drought, and another 30% under a severe drought. July was the driest month on record for San Juan in more than 120 years and the second hottest for the island's capital.Gov. Jenniffer González said she had formally requested the declaration from the U.S. Department of Agriculture more than two weeks ago.“From the very beginning, we made clear the needs of our farmers,” she said.The declaration covers 26 of Puerto Rico’s 78 municipalities, including Cabo Rojo, Ponce, Yauco, Aibonito and Lares.The disaster declaration allows farmers and agricultural producers in those regions to access emergency loans.“This is an important step,” said Puerto Rico Agriculture Secretary Irving Rodríguez. “We urge all producers affected by the drought to document their losses.”The persistent dry conditions have forced many farmers to halt production as early as May, said Fello Pérez, a Puerto Rico-based technical assistance provider for RAFI, a No...