The country has been affected by hurricane "Jos�" rains and winds in late October. Preliminary reports indicate that damage to housing and infrastructure has been incurred, while an evaluation of possible damage to the important tourist infrastructure is underway. An assessment of damage to the agricultural sector has not yet been made available. The island is currently being threatened by Hurricane �Lenny�.
Storm rains and flooding in September and October have affected the country, particularly the provinces of San Jos� and Cartago, in the centre, Guanacaste and Puntareanas on the Pacific coast, and Heredia on the north Atlantic coast. Preliminary estimates indicate that about 7�000 hectares of agricultural fields have been affected, with consequent damage to foodcrops, mainly paddy and beans. Export crops such as sugar cane and fruits, as well as livestock pastures, have been also affected. Despite losses incurred to the developing 1999/2000 second season cereal crops, for harvesting from November, an average maize output (both crops) is anticipated. Production of paddy, principally in the Chorotega and Brunca regions, is forecast to be above average; however, some 90�000 tonnes of rice will need to be imported in marketing year 2�000(January/December) to meet domestic demand for this important food staple.
The central and western parts of the country were affected by hurricane "Irene" torrential rains and winds in mid-October. A number of victims is reported and mass evacuation of people was effected. Considerable damage to housing and infrastructure is reported, particularly in the capital, Havana, and surrounding areas. Emergency assistance for house reconstruction has been provided by the Government. A preliminary assessment of damage to the agricultural sector indicates that considerable losses have been inflicted to banana plantations, particularly in the Province of Havana. Harvesting of the spring/summer paddy crop (planted from March to August approximately) has been also affected, principally in the Province of Pinar del Rio, by the heavy rains and flooding; however, despite possible losses incurred, an above-average paddy output for the whole country is forecast. Minor foodcrops such as roots and tubers are reported to be affected. Planting of the important export earning sugar crop was interrupted, and large growing areas have been flooded, principally in the central provinces of Sancti-Spiritus, Villa Clara, Cienfuegos and Matanzas. No serious damage to the crop is anticipated; however, some damage to the supporting infrastructure of the sugar industry is reported. Tobacco plantations, another important export crop, were also spared of the ravage of the hurricane. The rains helped, by contrast, refill water reservoirs all over the country that had been suffering from a dry spell since November last year. Food assistance from the international community continues to be provided. About 4�400 tonnes of wheat have been delivered against a similar quantity of pledges so far.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (2 November)
f Planting of the 1999/2000 second season coarse grain crops has only started, while harvesting of the second season paddy crop is underway. Weather conditions have favoured the crops and average outputs are expected. Good outturns are also anticipated from other basic foodcrops, such as plantains, fruits, potatoes and roots and garden vegetables. Livestock pastures are reported in good conditions. Maize imports of some 650�000 to 700�000 tonnes would nevertheless be required in the 1999/2000 (July/June) marketing year, largely to meet an anticipated expansion in the demand for animal feed, following last year's contraction in the poultry sector due to hurricane "Georges" impact.
Storm rains and flooding in September and first half of October have affected the country, particularly in the low lying areas of the Lempa River region, in the east, the Ahuachap�n department, in the west, and the capital of San Salvador and suburbs. A state of emergency has been declared by the Government. A number of casualties is reported. Mass evacuation of people has been effected and emergency food distributed with the assistance of the international community. Considerable damage to infrastructure has been incurred as some of the areas had been severely affected in 1998 by the passage of hurricane "Mitch". A preliminary assessment of damage to the agricultural sector indicates that some 8�000 tonnes of maize, 1 324 tonnes of beans, 1 325 tonnes of sorghum and 345 tonnes of rice have been destroyed. These represent, in aggregate, about 2 per cent of the anticipated annual output; however, maize losses between 50 and 100 percent are reported in the most affected areas. Other minor foodcrops and some major export crops, such as sugar (1 900 hectares), and numerous small animal farms have been affected by the floods. The food situation for the country as a whole is under control, but some of the affected areas have suffered from food shortages and an increase in the price of beans is reported. Despite losses incurred, cereal outputs (both crops) are expected to be above average, while production of beans, an important food staple in the population's diet, is anticipated to be average. Maize imports in marketing year 1999/2000 (August/July), mostly for the feed industry, is forecast to decrease from last year's 264�000 tonnes to about 150�000 tonnes.
Storm rains and flooding in September and the first half of October have affected the country, particularly around the capital of Ciudad Guatemala and the town of Retalhuleu, south west of the capital, where damage to housing as well as to crops is reported. A state of alert has been declared by the Government. A preliminary assessment of damages to the agricultural sector indicates that several thousand hectares of the important banana export crop, near the department of Izabal, in the north-east, are reported to be affected. Harvesting of the 1999/2000 second season maize crop is about to start, and despite affected plantings (315 hectares) an above-average output is expected for the year as a whole. Maize imports, mainly yellow, in marketing year 1999/2000 (July/June) are forecast to be about 550�000 tonnes, similar to the previous year.
Weather conditions have favoured planting of the 1999/2000 sorghum crop and that of the second season irrigated paddy crop. Early production forecasts point out to an average sorghum output of some 80�000 tonnes, while paddy output (irrigated and non-irrigated) for the whole year should be slightly below last year's average 70�000 tonnes. Technical and food assistance from the international community continue to be distributed. Food assistance from the international community continued to be distributed through development projects to some sectors of the population. About 1�000 tonnes have been distributed against pledges so far of 30�000 tonnes. Maize imports in the 1999/2000 marketing year (July/June) are expected to be some 70�000 tonnes, which compares to 50�000 tonnes the year before. Rice imports in 1999 (January/December) are provisionally estimated at 170�000 tonnes, similar to last year.
Torrential rains and flooding in September and the first half of October have affected the country, particularly in the Sula Valley, in the north, near the industrial city of San Pedro de Sula. High waters and mudslides have also affected the capital, Tegucigalpa, and its surrounding areas. Mass evacuation of people has been effected and a number of casualties reported. A state of emergency has been declared by the Government, and relief and food assistance from the international community has been distributed to the victims. Significant damage to housing and infrastructure is also reported in the most affected areas, which had been severely affected last year by hurricane "Mitch". A preliminary assessment of damage to the agricultural sector indicates that about 8�000 hectares of basic grains have been affected due to the incessant rains and flooding, also previously affected by drought. Damage has also been inflicted on banana, sugar cane and African palm plantations, the main agricultural exports of the country. Harvesting of the 1999/2000 first season cereal crops was near completion and planting of the second season crops had only started when the adverse weather struck. Below-average outputs for the year, close to 1998/99 hurricane affected crops, are forecast. Assessments for the rehabilitation of the agricultural sector are also being conducted.
Torrential rains, flooding and mudslides in September and during the first half of October have seriously affected the central and southern parts of the country, particularly the states of Puebla, Veracruz, Hidalgo, Tabasco and some areas in Chiapas. A significant number of casualties is reported. A preliminary official report indicates that more than 270�000 people have been directly affected, including about 90�000 farmers and livestock raisers in an area of near 240�000 hectares. Prompt emergency assistance has been provided by the Government. It is reported that roads and basic infrastructure have been severely hit by the phenomenon. Harvesting of the important spring/summer maize crop had only started when the adverse weather struck. Although no major damage to maize growing fields has been so far reported, as the states most severely affected are not major producers of basic grains, some localized losses have been experienced, principally in the large growing state of Chiapas. Moreover, the outlook is favourable for the other major grain producing areas in the country. Maize production in 1999 is consequently expected to be about average. There is some probability of food shortfalls, however, in the most affected areas, but no food shortage is anticipated for the domestic market as a whole. Major export crops grown in the affected areas, such as sugar cane and citrus, have been affected, but only minor damage is reported according to preliminary assessments.
Storm rains and flooding during September and the first half of October have affected the country, particularly the department of Rivas, in the south, around the capital, Managua, some coastal areas on the Pacific, and the northern departments of Estel�, Madriz and Nueva Segovia. Several of these areas had been severely affected last year by hurricane "Mitch". States of emergency and alert have been declared by the Government in various locations. A number of casualties has been reported and more than 100�000 persons have been directly affected. Roads and minor infrastructure have received the brunt of the damage. Damage to rural housing is also reported, as well as some disease outbreaks in some municipalities. Preliminary assessment of damage to the agricultural sector indicates that about 2.5 percent of the planted area to the second season cereal crops has been affected, although localized damage of a much bigger magnitude is reported. A loss of about 12 percent of the anticipated production from the sesame export crop is estimated. Emergency assistance, including food distribution from the international community, has been provided to the affected population. Despite the damage, near average 1999/2000 grain output is anticipated.
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