As a result of a resurgence of the flying locust plague that has been reported in recent weeks, Guatemala has decided to declare a State of Phytosanitary Emergency.
There has been a new outbreak of the flying locust plague identified under the scientific name "Shistocerca piceifrons (Walker)" directly affecting the department of Peten, so a State of Emergency is issued, explains one of the recitals of the Ministerial Agreement 18-2021, of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (Maga).
Due to the new outbreak of flying locusts, farmers in the department of Peten report that the pest has destroyed large areas of corn and bean crops.
Days ago, the International Regional Organization for Agricultural Health (OIRSA) warned that a locust swarm entered Guatemala from the border area with Yucatan, Mexico.
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.
Due to the impact of the tropical storms Iota and Eta, businessmen of the sector estimate that for the 2020-2021 harvest about 13% of the sugar cane production will be lost.
According to a report by the Association of Sugar Producers of Honduras (Amah), the rains caused by tropical storm Eta damaged approximately 23,874 hectares of cane, and in the case of Iota, approximately 19,414 hectares were affected.
Because of the humidity of the soils, a phenomenon that was caused by the heavy rains generated by the passage of the tropical depressions Eta and Iota, local authorities warn that the crops could be affected by diseases and pests.
According to representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (MAGA), crops such as coffee, bananas and vegetables could face the greatest risks.
Since the pest represents a threat and is capable of destroying crops in a very short time, moving large distances in one day, a state of phytosanitary emergency was declared in the country due to a significant increase in the number of flying locusts.
The Ministry of Agriculture identified a second outbreak of the Devouring Locust, now in grasslands and corn fields of the Havillal canton, municipality of San Miguel.
On July 15, the Government reported that they had detected the presence of the Devouring Locust in the state of nymph, in the Costa Azul hamlet of the municipality of Tecoluca, department of San Vicente.
The government has confirmed the presence of the devouring locust in the state of nymph in the Costa Azul hamlet in the municipality of Tecoluca, department of San Vicente.
In El Salvador, it is projected that in the current agricultural cycle, the corn and bean harvests will fall by 5% and 8%, respectively, compared to what was predicted at the time of planting.
The forecasts of the Chamber of Small and Medium Agricultural Producers (CAMPO) and the National Association of Rural Producers of El Salvador (ANPRES), specify that in the case of corn there are about 20,000 manzanas of crop damaged, which would imply a loss of investment of approximately $19 million.
Because of the scarcity of rain in the region known as the Dry Corridor, producers in the country estimate that in the first cycle of the year has lost about 30% of corn crops and 35% of beans.
Directors of the Union of Agricultural Producers of Nicaragua (Upanic) explained that for the so-called "first production", Estelí lost 50% of the bean crop, and in Nueva Segovia fell between 40% and 50%.
Partly because of the reported drought between June and July 2018, the estimated production of basic grains for the 2018/2019 agricultural cycle is 19.5 million quintals, 20% less than in the previous period.
The Salvadoran Chamber of Small and Medium Agricultural Producers (Campo) estimates that for the 2018/2019 agricultural cycle corn cultivation in the country will rise 14.5 million quintals, 31% less than reported in the period 2017/2018.
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.
Because of the dry season and the rise in temperature, Costa Rica expects an increase in pests in crops such as melon, watermelon, courgette, chili, tomato, beans and cucumbers, among others.
Authorities of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) informed that the climatic conditions foreseen for the coming months are associated with the El Niño-Southern Oscillation phenomenon.
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.
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