The heavy rains that have been falling since 28 August have flattened 4,852 hectares of corn, which represents a loss of $2.6 million.
The Minister for Agriculture, Juan Alfonso De León, explained that while around 300,000 hundred weight of grain will no longer enter the market due to the rain, production is still expected to exceed 29 million sacks in the current harvest, according to Prensalibre.com. "We do not expect to have to resort to an import contingency plan," he said.
The severe downpours have also damaged infrastructure making it impossible for some crops to reach the intended destinations.
Source: prensalibre.com
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October 2009
Lack of rain has reduced yield at corn, bean and sorghum plantations.
The most affected seed is corn, with $21.5 million losses, reported the Agriculture Ministry (Mag).
"The ministry's report summarizes other preliminary studies presented in the past weeks. From an economic loss perspective, bean is second after corn, with losses over $3 million.
April 2010
Rice, sugar cane and corn have been the most affected by droughts caused by weather phenomena “El Niño”.
1.200 hectares of rice were lost and 5.000 sugar cane hectares were damaged in the province of Guanacaste.
According to a preliminary report, more damage was registered in that region: “2.000 hectares of corn, 122 hectares of watermelon, and minor areas of chili, tomatoes, beans and papaya.
August 2009
Corn, bean and potatoes were the most affected by droughts, floods and frost.
This was reported by Agriculture Minister Mario Aldana, who added that over 12.000 hectares have been damaged in 16 out of the 22 departments of Guatemala.
"According to the Geology, Meteorology and Hydrology Ministry, known as Insivumeh, climate change will negatively impact agricultural production in 2009", said newspaper La Prensa Gráfica.
September 2009
The lack of rain is affecting farmers, causing the loss of 1.500 rice hectares, and threatening an additional 3.500.
The most affected areas are the province of Guanacaste and the Central Pacific. In the case of the latter, 6.000 planted hectares could output an under-performing harvest.