Because of the rains generated in Central American countries by Hurricane Eta, authorities warn that coffee plantations could be threatened by the spread of pests or diseases.
The government of El Salvador announced that it will invest $3 million in the delivery of 40,775 liters of fungicides and 30,000 liters of insecticides to combat and prevent the Coffee Rust and Coffee Borer.
In order to receive the inputs, coffee growers must meet several requirements, the most important of which is to be registered with the Salvadoran Coffee Council (CSC) and to have a valid identity card, informed the Ministry of Agriculture.
The financing contract for the coffee renovation program, which the Salvadoran government plans to sign with CABEI, received its first endorsement in the Legislative Assembly.
In August 2018, it was reported that the funds will be used to respond to the challenges of the coffee sector in El Salvador, supporting the renewal of 20,777,4 blocks of the crop, also contributing to the transfer of sustainable technologies, increasing resilience capabilities and improving the institutional framework related to coffee.
The disease has decreased considerably in recent years, as between 2014 and October 2018 the portion of the coffee plantation affected in El Salvador decreased from 38% to 10%.
According to monthly monitoring by the National Center for Agricultural and Forestry Technology (CENTA), the country's coffee plantation, which has been one of the most affected by the disease in the region, has considerably reduced the presence of rust.
Coffee growers in Guatemala estimate that production in the agricultural cycle that is about to end will totol 4.3 million hundredweight, above the 4.2 million hundredweight reported in the 2016-2017 harvest.
Forecasts by the National Coffee Association (Anacafé) indicate that for the upcoming 2018-2019 harvest, production could be located at 4.5 million gold hundredweight (46 kilos sacks), which would mean a continuation of the recovery phase.
With a loan from the BCIE, the Salvadoran government intends to finance a coffee renewal program, which would cover some 21,000 manzanas of crops.
The Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI ) reported that the funds will be used to respond to the challenges of the coffee sector in El Salvador, supporting the renovation of 20,777.4 manzanas of the crop, contributing to the transfer of sustainable technologies, increasing the capacity of resilience and improving the institutionality related to coffee.
Plant diseases such as rust in coffee plantations, added to an oversupply of sugar worldwide, explain some of the moderate expectations that entrepreneurs have for some of the most important agricultural products in the region.
Representatives of the Coordinating Committee of Agricultural, Commercial, Industrial and Financial Associations (Cacif) of Guatemala believe that the deceleration that has been registered in international prices of some raw materials and agro-industrial products suggest a decline in local production.
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).
Between May 30 and July 31, 18 million rust-resistant coffee plants will be distributed to local producers, with which 12.000 acres of coffee plantation will be renewed.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock reported that "... The requirements to receive coffee plants are: to be a coffee producer, to have a valid Salvadoran Coffee Council card, willingness to prepare the land, plant the plants and provide them with adequate maintenance. For more information, coffee growers can call 2397-2260 from the CENTA-Café Management or visit the 23 extension offices throughout the country."
Normal temperature and humidity conditions could increase the incidence and severity of coffee rust, especially in the areas of Honduras, Guatemala, southern Mexico and Nicaragua.
The Climate and Agricultural Health Bulletin, by the International Regional Organization for Agricultural Health, shows the outlook for the climate in the coming months, and details the impact that humidity and rainfall conditions could have on crops and agricultural activity in Central America.
In Costa Rica, climatic conditions have favored the development of rust in areas of early maturation, where 40% of the almost 30 thousand hectares planted are affected.
For the moment, the presence of this outbreak by epitifia is located in the coffee regions known as early maturing zones, that is to say, Pérez Zeledón, Turrialba and Coto Brus.Already, great efforts are being made to prevent this fungus from spreading to other coffee growing areas of the country.
Government and representatives of the sector have announced the creation of a work commission that will focus on defining new strategies to boost the coffee activity in the country.
Representatives from the Central Bank of Nicaragua (BCN) and coffee producers held a session in which they agreed to work together on various issues that impact on the activity of the sector, among which, are the effects caused by pests.
According to the union of coffee growers the threat of an increase in the incidence of rust remains high, in the regions of Coto Brus and Turrialba.
The "Early warning and recommendation system for the combat of Rust" by the Coffee Research Center, details that the threat of increase of rust remains high in the regions of Coto Brus and Turrialba. However, in the localities located in the regions of Pérez Zeledón, Zona Norte, Central Valley, Western Valley and Los Santos, the threat is gradually reduced depending on altitude and microclimates.
The new variety of Catiguá MG2 coffee that was released in Costa Rica after several pieces of analysis were carried out, is up to 60% higher in productivity compared to the Catuaí variety.
From a statement issued by the Costa Rican Coffee Institute:
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