Drought & Loss of Production. The official recognition of the drought that occurred during the summer of 2025 entitles farms to compensation. Many crops were affected during this period, and the consequences are still being felt. The authorities are paving the way to help repair the damage through a compensation process.
Official Recognition of the Drought
In late January, the prefect of Martinique declared a drought for the period from June to September 2025. This water shortage has affected a number of agricultural sectors, such as vegetable farming, fruit growing, export bananas, sugarcane, beekeeping, and grassland activities—particularly livestock farming—which were classified as «crop losses and production losses.« With regard to beekeeping, export bananas, and sugarcane, this constitutes a »loss of capital.”.
The area was defined in advance by the prefecture and covers the following municipalities: Ajoupa-Bouillon, Anses d’Arlet, Basse-Pointe, Le Diamant, Fonds-Saint-Denis, Fort-de-France, Le François, Grand-Rivière, Gros-Morne, Le Lamentin, Lorrain, Marigot, Le Marin, Macouba, Le Morne-Rouge, Le Prêcheur, Le Robert, Sainte-Anne, Saint-Pierre, Saint-Joseph, Sainte-Luce, Sainte-Marie, La Trinité, Trois-Ilets, and Le Vauclin.
The Compensation Process
To file a claim for compensation, please fill out this form: https://martinique.chambres-agriculture.fr/fileadmin/user_upload/320_chambre_dagriculture_de_martinique/actualite/2026/Formulaire_calamite_secheresse_juin-sept___2025.pdf
The Directorate of Food, Agriculture, and Forestry (DAAF) reminds applicants that the completed form must be submitted in person only at the following address: Jardin Desclieux, the DAAF headquarters in Fort-de-France. Online applications will not be accepted. Submission dates are set for March 2, 3, and 4, 2026, between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m. Only one application per farm will be accepted, and the application must be complete to be registered. There is one month remaining to complete the process to qualify for potential compensation.
This new drought in 2025 is occurring against a backdrop of significant climate change and widespread global warming. Farmers are on the front lines of this change and, fortunately, can count on the commitment of the rest of society to support them. To avoid these disastrous consequences, it will likely be necessary to consider significant adjustments to agricultural production to account for rising temperatures.
