In Guatemala, onion crops were attacked by a virus transmitted by the pest Trip Tabaci, and it is estimated that between 50% and 70% of the crops that supply the local market have been lost.
Representatives of the Federation of Agricultural Associations of Guatemala (Fasagua) said that the problem was registered in production areas of the departments of Santa Rosa, Jalapa and Jutiapa, which supply the country in the season from December to May.
Authorities in Guatemala are offering $25.57 million in subsidies and loans to provide access to high technology irrigation systems.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (Maga) has created a fund called the Integral Development Program for Areas with Potential for Irrigation and Drainage (Plamar in Spanish), which aims to ensure access to irrigation systems with modern technology.
Compared to the 2,400 cases collected in the summer crop, the winter rains reduced tomato production in up to 75%.
After noting that the local market is being well supplied, the president of the Federation of Agricultural Associations of Guatemala (Fasagua), Eddie Mendoza, was concerned about the amount of tomatoes entering the country coming in from Mexico, which is not supposed to be more than 4 truckloads per month, but he believes that this is the amount entering per day.
The projected increase for 2011 is due to a greater crop area and the establishment of two new packing plants.
The President of the Federation of Agricultural Associations of Guatemala (Fasagua), Eddie Mendoza, noted that new packing facilities are Fresh Del Monte and Guatemalan company Central American Greenhouse, which add to existing Semillas de Campo, Hidroponica de Guatemala and Panorama.
Guatemala exported $6 million during its first year of sales to the US, after having obtained permission to export its local tomatoes and peppers.
According to farmers from the Federation of Guatemalan Producers' Associations, this figure exceeds their expectations for the period from August 2007 to August 2008.
Sales to the US included 140 containers of tomato (approximately 4.9 million pounds) and 75 containers of (bell) peppers (1.9 million pounds).