Panama Light rains around mid-October benefited standing crops but were too late for any significant recovery. The main affected crops include paddy, maize, beans and roots. The fishery sector has been also affected and a decline in the fish catch is reported. Pastures have also suffered and a high mortality of livestock is reported. A request for international assistance has been recently made.
Predictions point to dry weather in the months ahead.
Belize No serious impact on crops has been so far reported. In the southern areas of the sub-region, harvesting of the 1997 wheat crop is underway. Unseasonably heavy rains in October have affected the crop in Brazil as well as in parts of Argentina but the situation there has improved in November. If this forecast materializes, planting of the 1998 crops to be started from March would be affected. Localized flooding in northern Argentina has been reported.