El Niño and the Central American Agricultural Sector: Early Warning, Impacts and Response

Informative article analysing the manifestations and impacts of El Niño on the Central American agricultural sector and highlighting the importance of early warning, climate monitoring and planning to reduce losses. The document describes actions undertaken by regional organisations to communicate climate scenarios, support sector preparedness and promote prevention and mitigation measures. It also reports economic losses associated with the 1997–1998 El Niño event and Hurricane Mitch, and proposes responses such as adjusting agricultural calendars, replacing vulnerable crops, maintaining drainage systems, monitoring pests, protecting livestock and strengthening agroclimatic monitoring.