In the period from January to August 2014, the government imported maize from the United States and Mexico, and in the case of beans, 60% was purchased from the US, 20.3% from Canada, 11.4% from China, 6.7% from Nicaragua and the rest 1.5% from Argentina.

Lahora.gt reports that "... According to the Ministry of Agriculture maize production in the last harvest reached 40.7 million, while for beans it was 5.8 million. However, from the middle of the year there was a prolonged heat wave which reduced production by 2.5 million hundredweight for the two basic grains. "

"... Although the acquisition of basic grains abroad are not comparable with the losses that caused the drought itself will reduce the potential impact of product shortages in prices."

Source: lahora.com.gt

More on this topic

El Salvador Produces Fewer Grains

April 2017

Maize production declined from 20.4 million hundredweight in the 2012/13 harvest to 15.6 million in the 2015/16 cycle, and yield per cultivated hectare has also declined.

In the case of beans, figures from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) show greater variability, depending on the bean and crop variety, as some have reported better results. However, bean productivity has deteriorated in recent harvests.  Laprensagrafica.com reports that "... performance went from 15.1 hundredweight per hectare on average in the 2014/15 season, to 13.1 in the 2015/16 cycle."

Guatemala to Import Staple Foods

September 2014

The government has announced preparations for the purchase of food abroad to minimize the impact that drought has had on grain crops and their prices in the local market.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (MAGA) has announced that reserves established by the authorities will be sufficient to meet demand in September, but in October imports will be necessary.

El Salvador: $11 million to Restore Plantations

November 2011

The Ministry of Agriculture will provide $11 million to compensate for losses caused by the excessive rains.

Hugo Flores, deputy minister, explained that the money will go towards replanting, renovating at-risk areas, and supporting the aquaculture sector, among other schemes.

Up to 60% Losses in Corn and Bean Harvests

September 2010

Though Salvadoran producers' forecasts were to exceed the previous year's harvest, the heavy rains have led to huge losses.

El Salvador's Farming Ministry (MAG in Spanish) had initially estimated that losses would be in the region of 30% for basic grains, in particular corn and bean.