Several tomato growers from the region of Santa Rosa, Guatemala, have reported numerous losses in their production, it is mainly in the municipalities of San Rafael Las Flores, Casillas and Nueva Santa Rosa, where they grow most of this vegetable that supplies the department and the capital's markets.
The reason for these losses have been the heavy rains that have hit the region, as well as the blight and Mosaic plagues. Although for these plagues there are pesticides to combat them. "The problem is that when these plagues are discovered it is too late," said Rudy Pivaral, one of the largest tomato growers in Guatemala.
"What mostly affects tomato crops are heavy rains, because if the humidity exceeds 80%, it favours pest development and causes cracking of the fruit," added Pivaral, who plants 10 acres of tomato between March and December.
During nine months three crops are planted, and the harvest is every three months, but lately they have been very affected by low production and a hard winter. They had estimated to collect 2,500 boxes per acre but, so far this year with the losses they have suffered, every acre that was planted has produced between 300 and 800 boxes.
The workforce is affected
Julio Alvarez, another producer from San Rafael Las Flores said he employed 60 to 80 people for the harvest, but because production has dropped lately, he hired only 20, which is alarming, if one takes into account that in the town most people are engaged in the cultivation of tomato.
Source: s21.com.gt