The Chamber of Agriculture (Camagro) estimates that only in 2018, invasions of private property, mainly agricultural production farms, generated a negative impact equivalent to 0.6% of Gross Domestic Product.

Nils Leporowski, president of Camagro, told Prensalibre.com that "... The 2018 is the longest period of invasions that have been recorded in the country according to historical data and is the first time that an economic calculation is made. Eighty percent of the invasions are concentrated in Izabal, Alta Verapaz, Quiché and Petén, which are areas where businessmen have stopped taking care of their property."

Leporowski added that "... the owners have stopped working certain areas of the territory, working days and a good percentage of that problem is in the Polochic Valley, Alta Verapaz and El Estor in Izabal."

Leporowski's explanation agrees with the latest recorded events, since on several occasions the business chambers have denounced that in the area from the Polochic Valley to Izabal, organized crime groups operate, thus affecting productive activity in the area. This situation became evident after a patrol of the Guatemalan Army Marine Infantry was ambushed in the municipality of El Estor, in Izabal, in early September, where three soldiers were killed.

According to the report prepared by Central American Business Intelligence (Cabi), at Camagro's request, the most affected crops are African palm for the production of oil, bananas and coffee.

Guatemala is not the only economy reporting losses in 2018 as a result of the invasion of productive land. Since the crisis broke out in April, Nicaragua has seen the appropriation of more than 5,500 hectares, of which 43% corresponded to agricultural crops and another 44% to livestock production.

As a result of this problem, the affected companies decided to suspend their investment plans.

Source: prensalibre.com

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