After reports of flying locusts entering Guatemala from the border area with the Yucatan, Mexico, Salvadoran authorities have declared themselves on alert because of the threat they could represent to local crops.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) is prepared to face the threat of a flying locust (Schistocerca piceifrons piceifrons) that could cause damage or loss to crops in our territory, details an official statement dated January 12, 2021.
Because of the weather, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador report annual losses in basic grain and vegetable production of $196 million, $140 million and $37 million, respectively.
According to estimates by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Central American countries that are part of the Northern Triangle, derived from climatic phenomena, mainly drought, annually record total losses in the agricultural sector close to $337 million.
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.
Due to the climatic conditions predicted for the months of July and August, an increase is expected in the presence of the disease in coffee plantations in Costa Rica.
During July there is a typical decrease in rainfall known as "la canícula", a period in which Rust progresses slowly and the emergence of new lesions is less.However, at the same time there is a greater presence of spores in the lesiones favored by the warmer temperature and by weaker and less frequent rains.This situation will promote a largeincrease in the disease in the majority of the Costa Rican coffee plantations when more abundant rains return starting in August, reported the Coffee Institute of Costa Rica (Icafé).
An overproduction of corn, wheat and rice in China and a record crop which is expected this year in the United States will continue to push international prices down.
While drought in Central America ravages crops of basic grains such as corn, it is estimated that this year China will have a reserve of 150 million tons of grain, "... including three of the most important crops in China: rice, wheat and corn.
Losses caused by the rust disease in Honduras amount to 1.8 million bags, 650,000 quintals in Guatemala, 600,000 in Nicaragua, 400,000 in El Salvador, 200,000 in Costa Rica and 60,000 in Panama.
Those are the estimates of the Central American Organization of Coffee Exporters (ORCECA), who was unwilling to speculate on how much income the region would not receive because of declining exports.
A mutant strain of the fungus is affecting 40% of trees in this country and is raising concerns due to its spread potential.
This aggressive variety of rust attacks the leaves of plants and reduces their productivity, and it finds better conditions in low-altitude sites, where it is warmer and there is more moisture.
Central America and Mexico produce about a fifth of the world's Arabica coffee, a quality grain preferred by roasters such as Starbucks. The presence of rust is a serious concern for farmers in the mountains or on the slopes of volcanoes, Reuters reported.
“Quesungual” is an agro-forestry method whereby the forest is not cut down. Instead, planting is done among dispersed trees that are pruned to allow light to filter in.
Hurricane Mitch’s path through Honduras in 1998 not only caused 10 thousand deaths, it destroyed 40% of the crop in the country. However, in Lempira, on the western part of the country, planting done through the “Quesungual,” method survived the forces unleashed by the wind and water.