Land is being prepared for planting of the 1998 first season maize and paddy crops. The outlook is uncertain as dry weather, combined with unusually high temperatures, associated with El Niño phenomenon, still prevail. Water rationing is being implemented in some areas.

As current conditions are forecast to continue in the weeks ahead (March and April are normally the warmest months in the country), a state of emergency was declared in September. Public works, such as construction of water tanks, reservoirs, etc. are being carried out by the Government to help cope with the impact of El Niño. Many small maize producers, mostly at subsistence level, experienced crop losses, but paddy was the most affected crop in 1997. Significant losses are reported in the large producing province of Guanacaste, but damage to crop was also incurred in the central areas along the Pacific coast and the southern province of Puntarenas. The bean output was also reduced. Pastures continue to be affected and the cattle industry is expected to suffer in the long run from these unusual conditions.

Maize imports, mostly yellow, in marketing year 1997/98 (August/July) are forecast to be close to the previous year’s receipts of 280 000 tonnes while rice imports in 1998 (January/December) are forecast at about 100 000 tonnes.