A severe drought has ravaged crops in Central America and as many as 2.81 million people are struggling to feed themselves, the U.N. World Food Program (WFP) said Friday.
The drought, which is also affecting South America, has been particularly hard on the so-called “dry corridor” of Central America, which includes southern Guatemala, northern Honduras, and western El Salvador.
Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega recently allowed 40,000 tons of red beans and 73,500 tons of white corn to be imported to help lower prices.
Guatemala declared a state of emergency after 256,000 families lost their crop.
Pea, green bean, and broccoli farmers estimate losses of 30 to 40 percent of their crop.
Guatemala’s national coffee association Anacafe said that earlier this month a preliminary survey of two of the country’s coffee-growing regions – Santa Rosa and Jutiapa – revealed that the drought will cause output to fall next season by 3 percent, or roughly 9,600 60-kilogram bags.
However, none of Central America’s four other major coffee producers – Honduras, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Nicaragua – have revised their output forecasts for the coming season due to the drought.