The El Salvadorean lime industry has emerged unscathed after heavy rainfall triggered by Hurricane Ida drenched parts of the Central American nation over the weekend.
The capital San Salvador and central San Vicente province were hardest hit by the rains, where 351mm of water fell in just three hours, according to a local producer-exporter.
“Fortunately, the lime groves and other exportable products were not affected and packing of these items is already underway,” Manuel Arturo Valiente of lime supplier Valper told Fruitnet.com.
“Most of the damage occurred in the rural and central zones where the coffee plantations are located and farming industry is based,” Mr Valiente added.
El Salvador’s agriculture chamber said on Tuesday that up to 28,000 tonnes of sugar and 76,666 (60kg) bags of coffee were lost after heavy rainfall caused major flooding and landslides, according to Reuters.
The floods and landslides have reportedly left at least 130 people dead, with many still missing and thousands made homeless.
After crossing the Gulf of Mexico, Ida downgraded to a tropical depression before coming onshore in the US state of Alabama on Tuesday (10 November).
