VZCZCXYZ0010
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHGT #0782/01 2261721
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 141721Z AUG 09
FM AMEMBASSY GUATEMALA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 7933

UNCLAS GUATEMALA 000782 
 
AIDAC 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR DCHA/FFP/JBORNS 
DCHA/FFP/CLAURENT 
LAC/CAM/KSEIFERT 
LAC/RSD/KBYRNES 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID AFIN DCHA PGOV PREL KDEM GT FPC
SUBJECT: CURRENT STATUS OF THE FOOD SECURITY SITUATION IN 
GUATEMALA 
 
Summary: 
 
Food supplies of the rural poor remain below normal due to 
reduced food crop production caused by erratic rainfall and by 
reduced use of fertilizers due to high prices.  The end result 
is reduced crop yields. This makes access to minimally 
adequate food supplies problematic for the rural poor.  The 
QEl NioQ phenomenon is expected to produce warmer 
temperatures and lower rainfall in important food production 
zones and is projected to last until early 2010.  There has 
also been a decrease of 11% of remittances during the first 
semester of 2009 as compared to the same semester of 2008, 
thus affecting many rural families who purchase some or most 
of their food.  The Government of Guatemala (GoG) approved a 
contingency plan to assist approximately 187,000 families 
living in 1,900 highly food insecure communities, as 
categorized by the Food and Nutrition Secretariat (SESAN). 
The plan is estimated to cost nearly US$9 million and involves 
providing over 11,000 metric tons of commodities to those at 
greater risk.  However the GoG does not have the funding 
required for this plan and is likely to approach the 
international donor community for assistance.  End summary. 
 
Currently, below normal household food supplies and above 
normal prices of basic food stuffs pose a serious food 
security threat to thousands of poor families, especially 
those living in the "dry corridor" that stretches from the 
eastern department of Chiquimula to the western department of 
Quiche.  The press reports a surge in acute malnutrition 
cases.  These signs of a deteriorating food security situation 
in the context of Guatemala's broad and systemic malnutrition 
problems bear close attention.  Guatemala has the highest 
national levels of chronic malnutrition on children under the 
age of 5 (49 percent) in the Western hemisphere.  These 
chronic malnutrition levels among children are ethnically and 
geographically bound and strongly concentrated in rural 
indigenous communities where they average 69 percent. 
 
In May 2009, the Government of Guatemala (GOG) approved a 
contingency plan that would assist 186,561 families in 1,901 
communities that are categorized with moderate to high food 
insecurity according to the Food and Nutrition Secretariat 
(SESAN).  These communities are located in 136 municipalities 
prioritized by the GoG Conditional Cash Transfer Program known 
as Cohesion Social.  The cost of this emergency plan is 
approximately US$9 million which includes the cost of 11,000 
metric tons of commodities and transport to the centers of 
distribution.  However, the GOG does not have the funding to 
cover this plan and is approaching different donors to help 
fund the implementation of this program. 
 
The Meso-American Food Security Early Warning System (MFEWS) 
food security outlook for the period from July through 
December 2009 reported that due to the rainfall irregularities 
during the months of May and June and high prices of 
agricultural inputs such as fertilizers and pesticides, crops 
were affected and up to 50 percent of both maize and beans was 
lost in some areas.  This year the annual hunger season 
started one month early (March) because of reduced yield due 
to last yearQs high prices of agriculture inputs such as 
fertilizer throughout the country.   All of these factors will 
make the food security situation for the poor households in 
Guatemala worse. 
 
In July, the climatic phenomenon of QEl NioQ was declared by 
the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (DOC/NOAA) and it is expected to 
QAtmospheric Administration (DOC/NOAA) and it is expected to 
continue through early 2010.  In the case of a typical 
phenomenon of QEl Nio,Q dry and warm conditions are expected 
 
in much of the country.  The last Central American Climate 
Outlook forecasted that during the next three months rains will 
remain below normal in the eastern departments of Guatemala. 
All of these factors indicate that yields for the second crop 
of basic food stuffs planted in August and harvested in 
November is likely to be reduced.  This indicates a high 
likelihood of further deterioration in the household food 
security of thousands of subsistence farmers in 2010. 
 
During the first week of August, MFEWS, SESAN, World Food 
Programme, Action Against Hunger and the National Peace Fund 
will carry-out a rapid assessment of the impact of the 
financial crisis, the closing of apparel sourcing factories 
and the reduction of remittances on Guatemalans.  Data from 
the Central Bank indicate that there has been a decrease of 11 
percent in remittances during the first semester of 2009 
 
compared to the same period in 2008.  This is likely to affect 
the access to foods of poor and middle-class families over the 
coming months, especially in the central, northeast and west 
of the country. 
 
It should be noted that the cost of the basic food basket in 
June 2009 was $238.44, a value which is higher than the 
minimum salary of $192.88, and higher than what most poor 
rural families earn. 
 
In light of these factors affecting the food security of poor 
Guatemalans, USAID/Guatemala along with MFEWS will continue to 
closely monitor the situation and report on any critical 
developments. 
 
Some possible recommendations to mitigate the impact of the 
expected decreases in food security include monitoring with 
the GOG and international organizations in the following 
areas: (1) the production of crops; (2) the amount of reserves 
that families have in the rural area of the country; and (3) 
the climate.  USAID will continue to advise the GOG regarding 
the use of improved varieties of seeds for the second planting 
season (drought resistant) and for the implementation of their 
approved contingency plan. 
 
 
McFarland