Bolivia taps up $50 mn to fend off El Nino

La Paz: Bolivia has made $50 million available for a program in rural areas that will suffer due to El Nino, that is estimated to be strong from November to March, an official said.

The program is to preserve agricultural resources, with $18 million for prevention and $32 million for rehabilitation, Xinhua reported.

"The preparations will include cleaning drainage trenches and establishing an early warning system to protect all agricultural areas," said Oscer Cabrera, Bolivian Vice Minister of Social Defence on Wednesday.

The country`s ministries of public works, economy, defence, health, education, agriculture and environment have already elaborated an emergency plan for the areas likely to be hit by El Nino.

El Nino battered Bolivia in 2007 and 2008, affecting 200,000 families and causing over $450 million in damage, according to statistics from the Ministry of Social Defence.