El Salvador - GFDRR

II. POPULATION AND AFFECTED AREAS | 37
Products
Planned production
before the events
Thousands of tons
Estimated production
after the events
Lost
production
Percentages
Relationship between
lost production and planned
production
Guava 0.8 0.7 0.1 7.5
Others 1.4 1.4 0.0 1.2
Sesame 1.4 1.4 0.0 1.2
Source: CEPAL, based on Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG), General Bureau of Agricultural and Livestock Economics (DGEA),
National Center for Agricultural, Livestock and Forest Technology (CENTA), Salvadoran Foundation for Coffee Research (PROCAFÉ),
Salvadoran Sugar Industry Council (CONSAA) and the Sugar Producers’ Association of El Salvador.
a
The loss includes 207 tons of coffee beans due to the landslide, and 292 tons that could not be recovered from coffee beans that fell
from the trees.
The total loss of production represents only 0.56% of estimated production and totals 499 tons: 230
are due to the landslide, and the remainder are coffee beans that fell to the ground and no longer have
any economic value, i.e., 34% of the total amount that fell, 24 added to the above, accounts for a social
loss due to the loss of 135,750 workdays, which would reduce the income of workers (direct and indirect
jobs) in the affected zones by over US$605,635. 25
The impact on the balance of payments will be a decrease in exports between the remainder of 2009
and part of 2010. At the average price provided by the International Coffee Organization (ICO), this is
estimated at US$1,675.80, which could be reduced or increased, depending on international price variations.
According to the Salvadoran Sugar Industry Council (CONSAA) and the Sugar Producers’ Organization
of El Salvador, sugar production increased by 6% in 2008 due to an increase in international prices
which also allowed an increase in sugar yields per hectare, equivalent to a production of over 581,000
tons. Due to the storms, sugar production decreased by only 25,800 tons, which could have increased to
a million tons if internal and external access roads to farms had not been repaired through a joint effort
by the private sector and MOP.
With regard to other crops such as vegetables, roots and fruits, losses totaled US$609,100; the crops
most affected were loroco, manioc, banana and guava. With regard to vegetables, a highly profitable and
employment-generating category, exclusive to small farmers, losses totaled 7,600 tons in 80.9 hectares.
In addition, within the agricultural subsector, irrigation systems experienced significant damages when
canals and floodgates became filled with silt and broke in the Districts of Lempa-Acahuapa, Atiocoyo Sur,
Atiocoyo Norte and Zapotitán; 15 mini-irrigation systems were unserviceable and wasted, macro-tunnels,
greenhouses, warehouses and farm implements were damaged, totaling US$796,000. Total damages and
losses in the agricultural subsector have been estimated at US$33.3 million.
24
There could be a greater increase in lost production of coffee that has fallen to the ground, if there is a labor shortage.
25
If one takes into account the fact that, to collect and process a quintal [100 libras, or 46 kilograms] of coffee beans, 12.5
workdays are needed; thus the estimated loss is over 605,600 workdays, equivalent to 543 rural jobs.