|
|  |
 |
GIEWS Update-detail |
|
|
|
|
|
FAO/GIEWS Global Watch
Heavy rains in Parts of Venezuela and Colombia
15 February 2005
|
During the second week of February, torrential precipitations have hit several departments of Venezuela and Colombia, causing river overflows and mudslides with damage to housing and infrastructure. A total of about 45 000 people are reported to be homeless in both countries.
In Venezuela, the government has declared a state of emergency in seven coastal states of Falcón, Yaracuy, Carabobo Aragua, Vargas, Miranda and Capital Federal, but heavy rains have also affected the southern states of Mérida, Táchira and Zulia on the border with Colombia. An evaluation of the crop damage is not yet available, but losses are expected to food and cash crops, such as vegetables, that are typically cultivated by small farmers in the affected areas, with negative consequences on food security for the local population. However, damages to major staple food crops such as maize, sorghum and rice are likely to be limited since the main growing states of Guarico, Portuguesa and Cojedes were marginally affected by the recent excessive rains. In addition, harvesting of the main summer crop, accounting for about 80 per cent of annual production, was already completed by the end of 2004.
In Colombia, the unusual heavy rains have hit northeast and central departments of Norte de Santander, Santander and Tolima. The national meteorological service (IDEAM) has forecast continuous precipitation in the coming days, affecting also country's western departments. Damage to the 2004/05 second season cereal crops, whose harvest was underway, are unknown at this stage. However, it is likely that previous official forecast of record aggregate maize, sorghum and paddy production for 2004, due to the expansion of the area planted, may be revised downwards.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
