RELATIONS BETWEEN AGRICULTURE, TRADE AND ENVIRONMENT IN CENTRAL AMERICA Carlos Murillo, CINPE.

RELATIONS BETWEEN AGRICULTURE,

TRADE AND ENVIRONMENT IN

CENTRAL AMERICA

Carlos Murillo, CINPE

The study is focused in four main aspects

• Features and trends of Central American agricultural sector.

• Environmental assessment matrix.• Rights and obligations of Central

America at the WTO.• Recommendations.

Characteristics of the Region

Small countries with tropical ecosystems Inequitable distribution of income and capital assets Agriculture and related agro-industries account for 30

percent of GNP Agricultural exports represent 60 percent of total

exports, although tourism is growing as an important source of foreign exchange.

In the primary sector, small farmers count as the great majority of enterprises.

The Economic Model

Structural adjustment programs provided the guidance during the last two decades.

Elimination of price controls and trade liberalization were among the dominant guidelines

Central America is lead towards regional and international trade liberalization, and several trade agreements have been signed

Agricultural production for exports provide a substantial part of rural employment, especially for the less educated population

Agriculture and Environment

Agriculture depends substantially from natural weather conditions; land under irrigation is less than 10% of total cultivated land

Small land holdings are located primarily in fragile hillsides There is a notorious trend towards intensification in agricultural

production and heavier dependence on agrochemicals There are valuable successful experiences of sound ecological

practices and sustainable agricultural enterprises. The room for innovation and sound environmental management

is quite high and promising.

Fuente: Elaboración propia basados en datos de FAO.

0

20

40

60

80

100

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Costa Rica El Salvador Guatemala Honduras Nicaragua

Centroamérica: uso del agua por país, 2000.porcentajes

Agrícola Doméstico IndustrialFuente: Elaboración popia basados en datos de FAO.

0.0

10.0

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40.0

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Centroamérica Costa Rica El Salvador Guatemala Honduras Nicaragua

Centroamérica: superficie territorial destinada a la agricultura, 1997-2000.porcentajes

Fuente: Elaboración propia basados en datos de FAO.0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

70.0

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Centroamérica Costa Rica El Salvador Guatemala Honduras Nicaragua

Centroamérica: superficie territorial destinada a la agricultura, 1997-2000.porcentajes

Fuente: Elaboración propia basados en datos de FAO.

Environmental Impact Assessment

• Matrixes

• Expert consultations

• Bibliographic revision

• Case studies: banana, coffee, sugar cane, poultry, pork, watermelon, corn, and flowers and ornamental plants.

• Clear

Impacto negativo leve

Impacto negativo moderado

Impacto negativo alto

Impacto negativo crítico

Impacto positivo moderado

Impacto positivo alto

IMPACTOS

PONDERACION DE

ACCIONES

1. Tierraa. Suelosb. Geomorfologia

2. Aguaa. Superficialesb. Subterráneas

a. Calidad (ruido, gases y partículas)

a. Erosión *b. Deposición (Sedimentos)c. Compactación *

1. Floraa. Arbolesb. Arbustos y Hierbasc. Pastosd. Cosechase. Microflora (Flora microbiana) *

2. Faunaa. Avesb. Animal Terrestre (Inc. Reptíles)c. Insectos (Controlad. Biológicos) *

a. Espacios Silvestres y Libresb. Agricultura

a. Empleob. Salud y Seguridad

a. Eliminación de Residuos Sólidosb. Eliminación de Residuos Líquidos

a. Salinización de recursos de aguab. Envenenamientoc. Cadena alimenticiad. Salinización del sueloe. Invasión de malezas

D. RELACIONES ECOLOGICAS

C. FACTORES CULTURALES1. Uso de la Tierra

2. Nivel Cultural

3. Servicios e Infraestructura

A. CARACT. FISICAS Y QUIMICAS

3. Atmósfera

4. Procesos

B. CONDICIONES BIOLOGICAS

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cultivo: melón, lugar: Península de Nicoya, C.R.

Impacto Negativo Leve

Impacto Negativo Moderado

Impacto Negativo Severo

Impacto Negativo Crítico

Impacto Positivo Moderado

Impacto Positivo Alto

ACCIONES

A. CARACT. FISICAS Y QUIMICAS

1. Tierra

a. Suelos

b. Geomorfologia

2. Agua

a. Superficiales

b. Subterráneas

3. Atmósfera

a. Calidad (ruido, gases y partículas)

4. Procesos

a. Erosión

b. Deposición (Sedimentos)

c. Compactación

B. CONDICIONES BIOLOGICAS

1. Flora

a. Arboles

b. Arbustos y Hierbas

c. Pastos

d. Cosechas

e. M icroflora (Flora microbiana)

2. Fauna

a. Aves

b. Animal Terrestre (Inc. Reptí les)

c. Insectos (Controlad. Biológicos)

C. FACTORES CULTURALES

1. Uso de la Tierra

a. Espacios Silvestres y Libres

b. Agricultura

2. Nivel Cultural

a. Empleo

b. Salud y Seguridad

IMPACTOS

PONDERACION DE

*melón

Agriculture, Trade and Environment

Agricultural production for exports is quite intensive in use of agrochemicals, yet the producers are complying with international requirements.

Consumer demands in foreign markets are providing increased pressure on environmental quality standards and the export sector is responding properly.

Agricultural exports have limited aggregated value, and specific recognition of friendly environmental practices as an attribute.

Escalated tariffs of developed nations are among the factors that limit exports of aggregated value products

Centroamérica, aranceles consolidados para productos agrícolas tras su adhesión al GATT y aranceles aplicados.

País Arancel Promedio

Consolidado Arancel Promedio

Aplicado a

Costa Rica 56.29% (1995) – 42.54% (2004)

13.90% (2000)

El Salvador 53.05% (1995 ) – 40.79% (2004)

12.10% (1997)

Guatemala 57.73% (1995) – 48.75% (2004)

10.26% (1999)

Honduras 35% (1995) – 35% (2004)

14.05% (1997)

Nicaragua 60% (1995) – 40% (2004)

10.50% (1998)

Fuente: Sistema Arancelario Centroamericano

Centroamérica, picos arancelarios

País Picos arancelarios (%) a

Costa Rica 274 Carne y despojos comestibles de ave y sus preparaciones 111 Productos lácteos

El Salvador

182 Carne y despojos comestibles de ave 115 Aceites 103 Carne bovina, congelada y maíz amarillo 97 Tabaco 92 Azúcar

Guatemala

286 Carne y despojos comestibles de ave, 268 Aceite de maíz, 258 Aceites de algodón y de girasol, 257 Aceite de palma, 178 Azúcar de caña o de remolacha, 154 Manzanas y peras, 150 Uvas, Harinas de trigo, 125 Trigo duro, 123 Frijoles, 118 Morcajo y tranquillón, 115 Productos lácteos, 102 Habas, 100 Arroz, sorgo y tabaco

Honduras No tiene, consolidó todo a 35%

Nicaragua 220 Carne congelada de partes de aves 85 Productos lácteos

Fuente: Centro de Comercio Internacional (www.intracen.org).

Green Box support Measures

Allowed support measures have been used in a very limited amount.

There has been limited imagination to provide allowed measures of support.

Limited availability of fiscal resources has been used as an argument for not providing imaginative support to agricultural production

The battle ahead is not only at WTO, but also with Ministries of Finance.

There is a strong need to review agricultural policies and to put aside tariff policy as the core policy issue.

Renewing the agricultural Development Model

More intensive vertical integration Adding Value and Differentiation of Agricultural

products Positive environmental enterprise management. Developing agricultural clusters with a geographical

perspective Attracting private investment from urban areas and

foreign countries

Prospects

Negotiations at WTO to obtain preferential treaty for clean and value added agricultural products in OECD countries

Obtain more resources of international cooperation earmarked for sustainable agriculture

Diffusion of successful experiences in sustainable agriculture

Embassies and policy makers more informed and committed with agriculture and its role in development

Thank You