NICARAGUA - Nicaragua is a country where half of the population make their living as farmers. Since only 4% of farmland is irrigated, these farming families are very dependent on rains. The timing of farming activities such as ploughing, planting and harvesting are closely tied to rain cycles. Traditionally, farmers could count on two rainy seasons each year – one in May and another in September. In recent years, however, these rains have become far less predictable.