Isolated moderate rains have been registered since end-May, but the country in general continues to be affected by extremely dry weather attributed to El Niņo, particularly in the northwestern parts. In the department of Guanacaste, intense fires are reported in national parks and protected areas, threatening the biodiversity and wildlife of the zone. Planting of the 1998/99 first season cereal crops, which normally starts in April, is consequently being delayed in various parts. Unless normal rains resume, below-average plantings of maize and paddy, the main cereal, are expected. The area planted to beans, an important staple in the population's diet, is also forecast to be below average for the second consecutive year as a consequence of El Niņo induced adverse weather.
Normal weather conditions were reported in the first half of May, following heavy rains and flooding in late March and April which caused serious damage to some crops and serious disruption to harvesting of the important foreign exchange earner sugar cane crop. The outlook is poor for the sugar crop. The crop has also been affected by technical breakdowns and the continuing shortage of farm inputs, which have resulted in a significant reduction in milling levels and lower than normal yields. Output is likely to be smaller than the historically low 3.3 million tonnes collected in the 1994/95 harvest. The situation has recently improved for fruits and other food crops, as well as for livestock pastures. Production of paddy will nevertheless remain below average because of the continuing lack of agricultural inputs. Rice imports in 1998 marketing year (January/December) is expected to be a relatively high 400 000 tonnes which should help meet domestic demand of this important staple in the population's diet.
Normal weather conditions since April are benefiting planting of the 1998 maize crop, as well as harvesting of the first season irrigated paddy crop. Water reservoirs are reported at adequate levels and an above-average output of 560 000 tonnes of paddy is tentatively forecast. This compares to 506 000 tonnes collected in 1997 and 472 000 tonnes average in the last 5 years. Maize production should recover from last year's drought affected crop and an average 45 000 tonnes are anticipated.
Abnormally high temperatures and dry weather, attributed to the tail-end effects of El Niņo, persist over most of the country, contributing to the propagation of forest fires. Some have been started by farmers' slash and burn agricultural activities in preparation for planting of the 1998/99 first season cereal and bean crops. Moderate to heavy rains have been registered however since end-May particularly in the northeastern parts that could signal the definite arrival of the rainy season. Plantings of maize, the main cereal, are expected to recover from the 1997 drought affected crop, but much will depend upon the intensity and duration of the rains. Food assistance is still provided by the international community to last year's drought- affected rural population. Assistance will be needed until the harvest of the 1998 first season crops.
Unusually high temperatures and dry weather conditions attributed to El Niņo still persist over most of the country, contributing to widespread forest fires which have been partly initiated by small farmers' land clearance activities. The situation has been compounded by the volcano eruption near the capital which has worsened the quality of the air and caused respiratory problems and other ailments. A state of emergency has been declared in various cities, including the capital, and preventive health measures taken for the protection of the population. Some recent light rains helped extinguish some of the worst fires that were seriously expanding particularly in the northern parts of the country. The damage incurred is reported to be significant, with about 65 000 hectares of forest areas burned down and another 155 000 hectares affected. Planting of the 1998/99 first season cereal crops has been delayed because of the late arrival of the rainy season, but farmers' expectations are that the recent rains could indicate the definite arrival of the normal rains. Intended plantings of maize, the main cereal, are forecast to recover from last year's drought affected crop. Important cash crops, such as sugar cane and coffee, are reported to be damaged by the prolonged dry weather. Food assistance is still distributed to the affected rural population and is expected to continue until the first harvest this year.
Normal weather conditions have benefited planting of the 1998 first season maize crop, which is about to be harvested, as well as harvesting of the irrigated crop currently underway. Early forecasts indicate a recovery in maize output from last year's drought affected crop to an about average 200 000 tonnes. An average paddy output is also anticipated. Food assistance is, however, still provided by the international community.
Planting of the 1998/99 first season cereal crops is delayed as a consequence of the late arrival of the rainy season. The country continues to be affected by El Niņo-related abnormally high temperatures and dry weather which have exacerbated ground fires caused by slash and burn agricultural activities. Air quality problems have been reported in locations such as the capital and San Pedro Sula in the northwest. Assuming normal rains resume, plantings of the 1998 first season maize crop, the main cereal, should be about average. Food assistance is still distributed to last year's drought affected rural population and is expected to continue until the first 1998 harvest.
El Niņo-related unusually dry weather and high temperatures continue to affect the country, preventing the development of normal agricultural activities. Parched livestock pastures are reported. Thousands of farmers are affected in the drought stricken areas of South Manchester, Southern St. Elizabeth, parts of important producing agricultural belt of Clarendon, St. Catherine, St. Thomas and St. Anne. An appeal for international assistance has been made by the Government.
Harvesting of the 1998 irrigated wheat crop has been almost completed. Output is provisionally estimated at a below-average 3 million tonnes which compares to 3.66 million tonnes in 1997. Planting of the 1998 maize crop is being delayed, particularly in the important growing central states of Hidalgo, Puebla, Guanajato, Tlaxcala and Mexico, for lack of rains caused by the tail end effects of El Niņo. Some light rains have been reported in the southwestern parts of the country, where planting has been also lagging because of the drought. In other important producing states, such as Jalisco, Sinaloa and Chiapas, the planting season extends into July. Overall, official forecasts point out to a possible loss of 1 to 2 million tonnes, depending on the timing of rainfall, from an earlier projected national spring/summer maize crop of 14.7 million tonnes. The drought has aggravated the effect of slash and burn agricultural activities, resulting in an increasing number of forest and ground fires.
Planting of the 1998/99 first season cereal crop is being delayed because of the lack of rains attributed to El Niņo. The drought has contributed to a significantly large number of forest fires, and it is reported that more than 800 000 hectares of land have been seriously affected. Some precipitation was reported by the end of May but the rains were irregular and ill distributed. Assuming normal rains resume, plantings of maize, the main cereal, should increase significantly from last year when the crop was severely affected by drought. Food assistance is still distributed to the affected rural population and will be continued until this year's first harvest.
Normal to abundant rains have recently been reported, particularly in the western areas of the country, which may signal the definite arrival of the rainy season. The area planted to maize and paddy, the main cereal, is expected to recover from last year's below-average levels when the crops were affected by a severe drought due to El Niņo. Food assistance is still distributed to the affected rural population and will continue until the first harvest this year.