El Salvador - GFDRR

II. POPULATION AND AFFECTED AREAS | 33
Technical assistance was continued, and in 2008 the Program for Free Delivery of Improved Seeds
and Fertilizers benefited a total of 285,000 hectares of basic grains, grasses and vegetables, and 532,200
producers. 17 One must not overlook the fact that basic grains are of great importance in the population’s
daily nutrition, especially the population living in areas that have been affected, and to a lesser extent in
generating income from the sale of these grains in the local market. 18
The disaster damaged a total of 35,700 hectares, representing 5.1% of the area slated for all crops.
Crops such as beans, rice, guava and loroco were those most affected (see Table 11). In addition, it was
necessary to act in a quick and coordinated manner with the Ministry of Public Works to collect sugar cane
and coffee in order to avoid a decrease in yields and losses which could have been substantial.
The crop most affected was beans, which are planted on lands located over 400 meters above sea
level and on soils with sloping topography. At the time of the catastrophe, the crop was ripening and was
severely damaged due to its susceptibility to moisture. Twenty-eight percent of the crop area was affected,
representing over 29,000 tons lost. The worst deterioration was in the Departments of La Libertad and
San Salvador, because in many cases landslides occurred in crop areas.
This category experienced the largest loss of workdays, totaling 725,239, equivalent to 2,900 direct
jobs. Although foreign purchases had increased in recent years (since 2006), there will be serious repercussions
on domestic availability, which will have a negative impact on the trade balance due to the need to
resort to imports whose cost, for the loss along, could total about US$27.7 million. 19
With regard to corn crops, the abundant rains affected corncobs due to the flattening of plants that
were already bent, causing the grain to rot. In some cases the husk 20 protected the grain and thus it was
possible to avoid moisture, funguses and major losses. 21 1.8% of anticipated production was lost, equivalent
to 14,800 tons. The most affected departments were San Vicente, La Libertad and San Salvador (see
Table 11).
17
The following have contributed to production performance: provision of shelling machines to support corn and sorghum
producers in harvesting, and the delivery of 30,000 metal silos to reduce post-harvest losses and contribute to the
achievement of better income for rural producers and their families. See: Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG),
Office of Policies and Strategies (OPE), Informe de Coyuntura [Status Report], January–December 2008, March 2009.
18
Under the current situation of reduced remittances and unemployment, many rural families are resorting to the planting
of basic grains to provide food security for their members. See: Informe Trimestral de Coyuntura, Primer Trimestre de 2009
[Quartly Status Report, First Quarter of 2009], Salvadoran Foundation for Economic and Social Development (FUSADES),
Antiguo Cuscatlán, El Salvador, April 30, 2009.
19
Bean imports in 2010 could double. To avoid shortages, possible markets (Nicaragua, Colombia, Brazil, Mexico or
Venezuela) are being sought. See: La Prensa Gráfica, “Se duplicaría la importación de frijol” [Bean imports could double],
Friday, November 20, 2009.
20
The husk surrounds the corncob; it could be considered its shell.
21
See: Impacto de la Tormenta Ida en el sector agrícola, pecuario y pesca (Datos al 13 de November de 2009) [Tropical
Storm Ida’s impact on the agricultural, livestock and fishery sector – Data as of November 13, 2009], Office of Sectoral
Policy and Planning (OPPS), Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG), Santa Tecla, November 2009.