FAO/GIEWS - Foodcrops & Shortages 09/01 - NICARAGUA (4 September)
Western parts of Nicaragua, which were affected in October 1998 by Hurricane ‘Mitch’, were this summer affected by drought. Some 45 000 farmers have reportedly lost at least 50 percent of their crops in León and Chinandega departments. For the country as a whole, early estimates of a bumper maize crop in 2001 have been revised downwards by 15 percent, and production is currently forecast at 272 000 tonnes, some 8 percent lower than last year’s drought affected crop. Despite the fall in production, the level of aggregate cereal imports is not expected to increase substantially. Maize imports in marketing year 2001/02 (Jul/Jun) are estimated at 90 000 tonnes, 10 percent higher than last year. Rice import requirements in marketing year 2001 (Jan/Dec) are expected to remain unchanged from the last five year’s average of 80 000 tonnes.
The country is not expected to face an exceptional food emergency in the upcoming months. However, the food situation of the affected rural population is particularly difficult because of the widespread closure of coffee plantations throughout the country. The closing is due to low international coffee prices and low expected yields which make production unprofitable. The coping strategies currently used include the temporary migration of women to the cities in search of work for domestic services and of men for selfemployment in the informal sector. WFP is providing food aid from local purchases to 9 000 drought-affected victims, but this number is expected to increase in the next few weeks. FAO, in collaboration with the Government of Nicaragua, is providing 7 000 farmers with agricultural inputs for second season crops currently being planted.