According to agricultural authorities and exporters, the low temperatures in Guatemala affected snow peas, blackberries, avocados and other crops, and endangered 1,840 quintals of peas and green beans.
In a preliminary assessment, the Guatemalan Association of Exporters (Agexport) estimated that the frost affected 25 percent of the export plantations.
Fanny Estrada, the director of Competitiveness at Agexport, said it would take them about two weeks to determine the actual percentage of the production that was lost to the frost.
The damage was mainly recorded in the western highlands region of Guatemala, as the temperatures recorded in these area in the last week have been lower than those of recent years.
Estrada said that in 2016 they had achieved low production volumes due a scarcity of rain, and that the frosts would also lead to an increase in prices.
She said that most of the sector had been affected by the cold season, especially small farmers, and that 90 percent of the blackberry crop was at risk of being lost.
Agexport said that even though these climate problems were unavoidable, the authorities should strengthen the agricultural sector, as it is one of the largest employers in the country.
The National Coffee Association (Anacafe), which brings together government representatives and producers, said the frost had an impact on the municipalities of Antigua Guatemala, Ciudad Vieja, and San Miguel Dueñas, in the department of Sacatepequez, among other places.
Source - http://www.freshplaza.com
