In Itapetininga, São Paulo, the fig farming season has commenced, running from December to early May, with local producers anticipating the potential harvest of around two tons of figs. However, an unexpected early rainfall in 2026 has posed challenges for farmers, impacting the timing of harvests and necessitating the adoption of new strategies to mitigate possible losses.

Farmer José Ronaldo Serigioli, who has been cultivating figs for four years, has reported that these early rains have complicated the harvest schedule, which he typically manages with manual labor twice a week. His family's livelihood depends on selling these figs at the local market, and he operates a farm with 200 fig plants on a 2,000-square-meter plot. To counteract the adverse weather effects, Serigioli has taken proactive measures, such as applying lime to his fig trees to strengthen their resilience against the unanticipated weather challenges.

Despite the struggles presented by the climate, Serigioli remains optimistic about his fig production and is expected to harvest a significant amount by the season's end. The adaptability of local farmers like him highlights the resilience of agricultural practices in the region, and their ability to adjust in response to weather patterns underlines the broader implications for local economies and food sources in the face of climate variability.