The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) is working on the development of a technological tool for smartphones that allows mapping agricultural losses after Hurricane Otto.
Minister Luis Felipe Arauz said that with the use of these devices it will be possible to have homogeneous information of the situation of each canton, so that the data comply with the requirements of the National Commission of Emergencies and the Agricultural Sector.
This Monday, Arauz was part of the session of the National Agricultural Council where it was agreed to start the field assessments to collect data on losses.
The work will be carried out by our officials in the regions, to the extent allowed by the weather. The access will be authorized by the competent authorities, especially in cantons that are still under red alert. We are confident we will have some data soon and a fairly close estimate in a month,”
said the minister.
A preliminary count of the National Chamber of Agriculture and Agro-industry listed losses in products like milk, rice, sugar cane, pineapple and cocoa.
Some facilities had partial and total losses and were isolated due to destroyed roads and power outages, which could spoil some of the products that were harvested prior to the phenomenon.
Juan Rafael Lizano, president of the Chamber, explained that the entity will continue to evaluate the damages. An updated count is expected for next week. It will be carried out by the Chamber with information from its associates.