Producers in the southern region reported damage to corn and sugar cane caused by the insect known as the lace bug.
Tuesday, September 13, 2016
Authorities at the Ministry of Agriculture (Maga) confirmed to Prensalibre.com that about 1,000 hectares of maize in Retalhuleu have been affected by the plague.
Gustavo Rivas, general secretary of the National Association of Basic Grains (Anagrab) reported that "...a workshop has been organized with producers, the Maga and the private sector to find alternative solutions to the problem.'We will assess damaged areas in order to find out about the pathogens that are causing the problem and find solutions."
"...The director of the Guatemalan Center for Research and Training on Sugarcane (CENGICAÑA), Mario Melgar, explained that the lace bug is not exclusive to sugar cane and first appeared during the 2006-2007 harvest; He added that seasonal and long term changes may affect fauna, flora and the dynamics of insect populations. "
Because of the humidity of the soils, a phenomenon that was caused by the heavy rains generated by the passage of the tropical depressions Eta and Iota, local authorities warn that the crops could be affected by diseases and pests.
According to representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (MAGA), crops such as coffee, bananas and vegetables could face the greatest risks.
The government has confirmed the presence of the devouring locust in the state of nymph in the Costa Azul hamlet in the municipality of Tecoluca, department of San Vicente.
Because of the drought that is affecting several areas in Central America, in El Salvador, agricultural producers estimate that at least 6.3 million hundredweight of corn, valued at $39 million, have been lost.
Representatives from the Salvadoran Chamber of Small and Medium Agricultural Producers (Campo) said that due to the drought, which lasted up to 40 days in some areas of the country, they have lost more than 6 million hundredweight of corn, valued at $38.6 million.
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