In the Midlands the lack of rainfall has had a huge impact on rivers and farmers.

BBC: Drought may last until Christmas: Environment Agency

No wonder, either, that every so often the private sector makes a mistake, as anyone can: this new water-main or sewer is not built on time, or lack of rainfall means that a reservoir is dry.

ECONOMIST: Third-world water and the private sector

So far the October to January cocoa harvest in the African country has been strong, according to Laurent Pipitone, senior statistician at the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO), "but the second part of the main harvest (January to March) is expected to be relatively poor, " thanks to the lack of rainfall between August and October of 2009.

FORBES: Soft Commodities