No Thumbnail Available

EL NINO’S IMPACT ON CROP PRODUCTION IN LATIN AMERICA - 25 November 1997

Year of publication 1997

Author FAO

Product type Book (stand-alone)

Synopsis (short abstract) Crop production in Latin America is particularly vulnerable to the effects of El Niño. The phenomenon’s early manifestations in 1997 have affected the first season cereal and bean crops in most Central American and Caribbean countries. On average, losses for 1997 crops in the sub-region are estimated at about between 15 and 20 percent as compared with the previous year, but losses in several countries have been substantially higher. The second season crops, currently being harvested, have been a ffected first by excessive rains in September, typical of the hurricane season, and since then by abnormally dry weather associated with El Niño. Prospects of recovery from previously incurred losses are almost nil for most countries. In addition, a serious risk exists for the planting of the 1998 first season cereal crops, beginning in March, should dry weather extend to March/April. In South America, in the Andean countries, planting of the 1998 main season crops is underway. The bulk of th e 1997 cereal crops in these countries had been collected when El Niño’s early effects were felt. In the southern areas of the sub-region, however, plantings of the 1997 wheat crop were significantly reduced in the main producing countries because of excess rainfall. Harvesting is presently underway while sowing of the 1998 maize crop has started. For the sub-region as a whole, precipitation and temperature anomalies prevail and constitute a threat to the crops. The outcome will be largely deter mined by the development of El Niño phenomenon whose strongest impact is expected in the next few months.

Language English

Also available in:

Related items

Showing items related by metadata.

  • No Thumbnail Available
    Book (stand-alone)
    HEAVY RAINS ATTRIBUTED TO EL NIÑO CAUSE EXTENSIVE CROP DAMAGE IN PARTS OF EASTERN AFRICA - 5 February 1998 1998
    Also available in:
    Since October 1997, exceptionally heavy rains associated with the El Niño phenomenon have caused havoc in most parts of eastern Africa, with severe floods seriously affecting food production and distribution. The floods have also caused extensive damage to crops, both in the field and in stores, as well as losses of large numbers of livestock. Severe damage has also been inflicted on the sub-region’s infrastructure (roads, bridges, rail lines), seriously disrupting the movement of goods within a nd between countries. In some countries such as Somalia and Kenya loss of human life has been significant. Food assistance is currently being provided to the affected people in these countries but substantial assistance is still urgently needed not only in the form of food but also as logistical support in view of transport difficulties. In the sub-region as a whole some 10 million people currently require emergency assistance.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Book (stand-alone)
    FAO/WFP CROP AND FOOD SUPPLY ASSESSMENT MISSION TO THE DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA - 12 November 1998 1998
    Also available in:
    The combination of economic decline and natural disasters in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea since 1995, have seriously compromised national food security. Although the unprecedented volume of food aid and international assistance for agriculture recovery has undoubtedly helped ease the situation, the country still faces a precarious food outlook. An earlier FAO/WFP mid-season assessment of crop and food prospects in June warned that even under favourable weather conditions, chro nic shortages of essential agricultural inputs would compromise food production this year leaving the country with a large food deficit. In addition, the severity of economic problems facing the country and its seriously reduced capacity to import food commercially meant that a large part of the deficit would need to be covered by food assistance.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Book (stand-alone)
    FAO/WFP CROP AND FOOD SUPPLY ASSESSMENT MISSION TO THE DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA - 16 November 2000 2000
    Also available in:
    After two relatively stable agricultural years in 1998 and 1999, which saw moderate recovery in domestic food production following earlier disasters in 1995, 1996 and 1997, food production in 2000 has again slumped. This has been due to a combination of drought, at critical stages in the crop cycle, particularly planting, and the cumulative effect of underlying problems in agriculture which continue to constrain production heavily. Most important of these constraints has been the lack of electri city and fuel, which has greatly hindered irrigation and water delivery systems, resulting in lack of water in reservoirs and in the field at important times during the season. As a result of these factors there has been a sizeable reduction in rice and maize productivity and production. This year's drought also affected neighbouring China and a number of other countries in central and south Asia and the Middle East. The knock-on effects, however, are perhaps more ominous in DPR Korea as t he country can essentially produce food during only one season in the year (June-Oct.), has chronic input problems in the agricultural sector and is already in the midst of serious and persistent food shortages. Consequently, with no real possibility of enhancing food supplies significantly through domestic production till the next harvest in September/October 2001 and limited resources to import food commercially, the country appears to have little alternative other than to rely heavily on food assistance during the next 12 months, as it has done for the last five years.
Show more

Users also downloaded

Showing related downloaded files

No results found.