Central America and Caribbean

From Fews Net

Key Messages

• Poor households in Haiti and Central America who suffered crop losses during 2018 and are heavily market dependent will continue to engage in negative coping strategies to fill consumption gap will face Crisis (IPC, Phase 3) food security outcomes.
• El Niño conditions will remain in the region until the end of fall of 2019 affecting the sowing of Primera and the development of Postrera crops in the Dry Corridor. Additionally, forecasted high temperatures could reduce soil moisture. In Haiti some dry rivers and irrigation canals are limiting water access for human, livestock and agricultural production.
• Basic grains markets are supplied by imports and recent harvest in surplus areas. Maize prices are following the seasonal trend but significantly above average in Honduras and Nicaragua. In Central America, bean prices are below average. In Nicaragua, political tension and recent tax reforms are affecting markets and trade; additionally, speculation increases food prices. In Haiti, local and imported staple food already high prices saw an additional 9 percent increase between January and February.
• The end of high labor demand season leads to reduced sources of income and food access for the poorest households. The current employment options are related to land preparation for the Primera crops. However, the crop losses of 2018 and an irregular start of the rainy season may affect labor. Additionally, low international coffee prices harm coffee farmers, limiting labor opportunities and income for poorest households who depend on coffee.

FEWS NET classification is IPC-compatible. IPC-compatible analysis follows key IPC protocols but does not necessarily reflect the consensus of national food security partners.FEWS NET Remote Monitoring countries use a colored outline to represent the highest IPC classification in areas of concern.

For more on this story go to; http://fews.net/central-america-and-caribbean/key-message-update/april-2019