Guatemala’s president declared a national emergency on
Friday over the spread of coffee rust, saying the fungus that has hit
other Central American countries is affecting 70 per cent of this
nation’s crop.
President Otto Molina Perez ordered
the release of more than $14 million to aid coffee growers. He said the
funds would help 60,000 small farmers buy pesticides and also finance
instruction to teach them how to prevent the disease and stop it from
spreading.
Coffee rust, which can kill plants by withering their
leaves, also is affecting plantations in El Salvador, Honduras, Panama
and Costa Rica. Mexico’s agriculture authorities said the fungus has
been detected there but so far has not damaged plants.
Mr.
Molina said the pesticides will start being applied to coffee plants in
April and two more applications will be needed during the year.
Nils
Leporowsky, president of the National Coffee Association of Guatemala,
or Anacafe, said coffee is grown in 206 of the country’s 333
municipalities.
Coffee producers in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Costa Rica plan
a Feb. 27-28 meeting in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, to discuss common
strategies for combating coffee rust.
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