The government reported this Wednesday (29) that it plans to invest up to R$1.3 billion in actions to face the negative impacts of El Niño in Brazil, such as, for example, extreme droughts, intense rains and fires. ?The climate phenomenon, characterized by the abnormal warming of the waters of the Pacific Ocean, can change the rainfall regime and temperatures in different parts of the world. In Brazil, the effects can affect agriculture, water resources and increase the occurrence of extreme events. The information was released during a ministerial meeting led by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT). "Brazil is prepared and asking God that it doesn't happen. If it doesn't happen, we will have better agricultural production, energy, water, we don't want it to happen. It's not in our control and we are preparing," said Lula. Fertilizer prices and El Niño could make food more expensive. The PT member also defended meetings with mayors so that the response to the possible impacts of the climate phenomenon can be joint. "The chance of avoiding misfortune is greater because the mayor is in the territory," said the president. ?Forecasts from the world's main meteorological agencies, confirmed by Brazilian agencies, predict a very strong El Niño this year, with an increase of over two degrees in the temperature of the Pacific Ocean. The government's action plan involves 24 ministries, as well as monitoring and research institutes, such as the National Institute for Space Research (Inpe) and the National Institute of Meteorology (Inmet). The resources will be allocated to food supply, health, hydrological monitoring and environmental inspection. Among the main measures foreseen in the plan are: purchase of 180 thousand tons of corn and 310 thousand tons of rice; strengthening forest fire fighting; acquisition of 350 thousand basic food baskets; Food Acquisition Program for farmers in the North region; creation of a Health and Climate Information Center by the SUS; river level monitoring. Lula held a ministerial meeting to discuss measures to combat El Niño Reproduction/YouTube