High fuel costs, rising farm input prices and drought are among the factors that could worsen the global food crisis and cut food production next year, Juan Carlos Rivera, president of the Asociación de Agricultores (Farmers Association), said in Puerto Rico. Late in October, the World Food Programme warned of the risk of a deterioration in global food security.
The drought caused the loss of 40% of Puerto Rico's coffee harvest.
Rivera said the rising cost of fuel affects not only production on the island but also the transport of food, fertilizers and other inputs agriculture needs. "El agricultor no tan solo gasta en poder producir, sino que gasta también en poder llevar su alimento, porque el costo del diesel también afecta eso," he said, noting that diesel costs also hit the hauling of produce.
Added to this is competition from imported farm products: if world production falls, Puerto Rico would have to compete with other countries to buy food, which could put more pressure on prices. The El Niño phenomenon and its effect on rainfall patterns are another concern. The drought caused the loss of 40% of Puerto Rico’s coffee harvest.
Rivera proposed a master plan between the government and the farm sector to conserve and better use water, including dredging lakes and building retention ponds on farms. Some farmers have cut production; those with regulated prices or fixed sales commitments, such as the milk industry and growers with supermarket agreements, absorb fuel and transport increases and sometimes stop planting.
Rivera said the Agriculture secretary stays in contact with farmers but questioned whether the agency has the money to act faster and more effectively.