Heavy rains and flooding along the Caribbean coast in the early half of May severely affected minor food crops. A large number of people was forced out of their homes. Serious damage to rural infrastructure is also reported. Valle de la Estrella, Matina, Batan, Siquirres and Talamanca, in particular, are reported among the worst hit communities. A state of emergency has been declared by the Government and measures taken to avoid the outbreak of diseases following the floodings. Planting of the 2002/03 first season cereal and bean crops has started with the arrival of the seasonal rains. Overall, the area planted should increase from last year’s drought affected plantings, particularly for paddy, the main cereal. Imports of rice in marketing year 2002 (January/December) should increase from 55 000 tonnes imported in 2001 to about 65 000 tonnes.
Delayed but well distributed rains throughout May benefited the development of minor food crops and planting of the spring (main) paddy and maize crops currently underway. No disruption was caused to 2001/02 winter (irrigated) paddy crop presently being harvested. Production of paddy in 2002 is early forecast at 340 000 tonnes, a slight increase from 2001 volume of 330 000 tonnes. Rice imports between 470 000 and 480 000 tonnes would nevertheless be required in marketing year 2003 (January/December) to meet domestic demand for this important staple. Harvesting of the important sugar cane crop has extended into May due to fuel shortages and other inputs. Production is provisionally estimated at 3.6 million tonnes, below the 4 million tonnes officially forecast at the start of the harvest in November last year, but still above the 3.5 million tonnes collected in 2001.
Harvesting of this year’s main paddy crop and planting of the 2002/03 first season coarse grain crops have started under normal weather conditions. Early forecasts point to an above-average paddy output, the main cereal, but lower than the record production level reached in 2001. The outlook is also favourable for other important food crops such as beans, plantains and roots.
Wheat imports in marketing year 2002/03 (July/June) are forecast at about 325 000 tonnes, slightly above the previous year’s volume, while maize imports, mostly for the animal feed industry, should remain at about the same 2001/02 (July/June) level of 700 000 tonnes.
Planting of the 2002/03 first (main) season maize, paddy and bean crops has started with the arrival of the first season rains from mid-April. Production of maize, the main cereal, is forecast to recover from last year when the crop was affected by severe drought. The food security situation is difficult at the moment and is expected to continue until the first season crop harvest in August. Food assistance to about 10 000 drought-affected families in 44 municipalities should continue until August. In addition, some 16 500 families, victims of last year’s February earthquakes in the same drought-affected areas, will be receiving food assistance from the international community until July. The important coffee sector continues to be affected by low international prices, thus reducing the possibility of the affected population for alternative or supplementary employment in rural areas.
Planting of the 2002/03 first (main) season maize and bean crops has started in some parts, particularly along the Pacific coastal and tropical areas, with the arrival of the seasonal rains from mid-May, while in others sowing is delayed due to the late arrival of the rains. A recovery in production is, nevertheless, expected from last year’s drought affected crop. The food supply situation is still tight in some of the most affected areas, where international food aid continues to be provided. About 31 000 families are being assisted, including a large number of children suffering from acute malnutrition. The food supply situation is also difficult for the increasing number of unemployed and low paid workers from the coffee sector due to the prolonged international crisis which is affecting the industry.
Heavy rains and flooding in the southern departments of Grande-Anse and Sud in the last days of May have left a number of victims and caused damage to rural housing and infrastructure. Some 560 families in about 20 towns are reported to be affected by the disaster, and many of the towns have remained in isolation. Damage to the agricultural sector is also reported. A detailed assessment of damage has not been made available yet. Harvesting of the 2002/03 first season maize and bean crops was interrupted following the heavy rains. Weeks of dry weather had previously affected the developing crops, and despite the heavy rains, moisture deficits in various degrees are still reported all over the country. Some areas in the north west were particularly hit by the dry spell. Harvesting of the important irrigated paddy crop has started while planting of the rainfed paddy crop has been completed. Prospects are uncertain and slightly below-average outputs are tentatively forecast. Food assistance from the international community continues to be distributed through development projects to some sectors of the population, mainly in the north and northwest.
Planting of the 2002/03 first season cereal and bean crops has started with the arrival of the rainy season. The rains have been particularly heavy in the central parts of the country and damage to rural housing and infrastructure is reported. So far, no serious damage to the agricultural sector has been reported. Production of maize, the main cereal, is expected to recover from last year, when the first season crops were affected by severe drought. The food supply situation should remain tight until harvest of the first season crops which is due from August. This is particularly true in the drought affected departments of Choluteca, Francisco de Morazán, Intibuca, Valle, Comayagua and El Paraiso in the south, where food assistance was distributed to the hardest stricken groups.
Heavy rains during the last week of May, resulting in flooding and landslides, have caused damage to rural housing and infrastructure. A number of victims is reported while some of the affected population has been forced to leave their homes. Some losses are also reported to crops, particularly bananas, and to livestock. The most affected areas are the parishes of Clarendom, Manchester and St. Catherine, followed by Kingston, St. Thomas, St. Ann, Portland and St. Elizabeth, in the south and southeast of the country.
Harvesting of the 2002 irrigated wheat crop, particularly in the northwest main growing areas, has been completed. Production is provisionally estimated at some 3.2 million tonnes, which compares to the average 3.3 million tonnes collected in 2001. The decline is largely due to lack of water availability in the main producing state of Sonora, which resulted in decreased plantings and lower than normal yields. Planting of the important 2002 spring/summer maize crop, for harvesting in the fall/winter, is well advanced. Adequate growing conditions are reported in the large producing states of Jalisco, México, Michoacá, Chiapas and Puebla, in the central plateau and the south. Harvesting of the 2002 winter (planted January/February) sorghum crop is underway in the main producing states of Tamaulipas and Nuevo León, in the north east, where about 80 per cent of the winter sorghum crop is grown. The outlook is uncertain due to lack of normal rainfall during growth, particularly in the former state. Scattered showers since mid-May, however, have helped improve the situation.
Heavy rains and flooding along the Pacific coastal areas by end-May caused severe damage to housing and rural infrastructure. Some 1 625 families are reported to be affected, more than one thousand houses damaged and a number of small towns cut off of all means of communication in Nueva Segovia (Región I), León and Chinandega (Región II) and in Matagalpa (Región VI). Some of the surrounding areas around the capital of Managua are also particularly affected. No significant damage to the agricultural sector is so far reported. Planting of the 2002/03 first season cereal and bean crops started end-May with the arrival of the rainy season. Production is expected to recover from last year, when the first and second season crops were affected by drought and hurricane “Michelle” respectively. The food supply situation is particularly difficult for some of the drought affected families and should continue to be so until harvest of the first season crops which is due from August. This situation is aggravated by the high number of unemployed and low paid workers from coffee plantations, critically affected by the fall in international coffee prices.
Planting of the 2002 cereal crops, mainly paddy, has started with the arrival of the seasonal rains in May. The area planted to paddy and maize, particularly the irrigated area, is expected to increase from last year, when the crops were affected by drought.