Hurricane Fiona damaged Puerto Rican crops, like this field in Guánica, Puerto Rico.
José Jiménez / Getty Images
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José Jiménez / Getty Images
Hurricane Fiona damaged Puerto Rican crops, like this field in Guánica, Puerto Rico.
José Jiménez / Getty Images
Puerto Rico’s crops – a staple in the residents’ diet – are among the crops hit hard by the Typhoon Fiona that the island may not be able to produce any products for the upcoming holiday season.
Ramón González Beiró, secretary of Puerto Rico’s agriculture ministry, announced that most of the fields had been lost due to the storm’s heavy rains and would take months to recover, some Puerto Rican news outlets reported. Banana, papaya and coffee fields also beaten by the storm. He estimates the island’s agricultural industry will lose about $100 million.
NPR has reached out to the secretary and will update when we receive comment.
Cities, towns, and villages throughout Puerto Rico are evaluate the devastation caused by Fiona. More than 800,000 customers remain without power nearly a week after the storm, as reported by utility companies tracked by PowerOutage.
The role of plantations
The crop serves as an important starch for many Latino communities. They are loved for their versatility in cooking and are an essential ingredient for dishes like mofongo and colored chalk.
Puerto Rico’s agricultural industry has devastated by Hurricane Maria in 2017. About 80% of the island’s crop value has been lost. Likewise, crops and bananas are the most affected crops.
Ecuador, Guatemala and the Philippines are among the largest countries in the world exporter Crops. However, crops continue to be Puerto Rico’s third-largest commodity, bringing in more than $42 million in revenue for the island in the past year. 2018.
