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El Salvador + 2 more

Central America and Caribbean Remote Monitoring Report, September 2014

Attachments

Losses of Primera crops and rising prices threaten food security

Key Messages:

Subsistence farmers growing staple grain crops, migrant laborers, and small-scale coffee growers in southern and western Honduras, eastern and western El Salvador, and north-central Nicaragua will face Stressed food security (IPC Phase 2) between October and December due to limited food reserves, the failure of Primera crops, high staple grain prices, the potential for damage to Postrera crops, and limited employment opportunities.

The droughts in Honduras and Nicaragua were especially severe, causing 80 to 100 percent of the Primera crops of subsistence farmers in certain areas to fail.

Cumulative rainfall to date has been beneficial for the initial growth stages of Postrera bean and maize crops in the Pacific Coast area of Central America. However, the pattern of rainfall over the next 30 to 40 days will play a crucial role in the growth and development of Postrera crops. Forecasts from the Central American Climate Outlook Forum for October through December predict below-normal rainfall for the Pacific Coast area.