Costa Rica farmers destroy flowers as coronavirus spoils exports

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Costa Rica farmers destroy flowers as coronavirus spoils exports

By Hector Guzman


By Hector Guzman

CARTAGO, Costa Rica, April 1 (Reuters)Costa Rican flower farmers have began destroying lilies, roses and chrysanthemums they’ve lovingly tended for months after the coronavirus outbreak led to the suspension of flights to markets in america and Canada.

“This was our work. We have now grown and cared for them since they have been seeds,” mentioned Cristian Quiros, a employee on the Flores y Verdes del Irazu farm within the central metropolis of Cartago. “Now we have now to throw them away, and it is such a troublesome feeling.”

The coronavirus has unfold to 206 nations and territories, killing over 42,000 folks and threatening the livelihoods of tens of millions of others who’re struggling to make ends meet.

Interactive graphic monitoring international unfold of coronavirus: open https://tmsnrt.rs/3aIRuz7 in an exterior browser.

William Quiros, proprietor of the flower farm, estimated that Costa Rica’s sector misplaced $10 million prior to now two months alone from not with the ability to promote lower flowers, and $25 million in whole when factoring in misplaced gross sales of different varieties of flowers.

March and April are often the highest months in income phrases for flower farms in Costa Rica, one of many largest exporters within the Americas, with Mom’s Day in america producing peak demand.

Quiros mentioned his staff at the moment are reducing the flowers anyway as a result of rising them would deplete the soil of vitamins. However their hours and pay have been diminished considerably.

“They’ll a minimum of purchase meals and survive whereas ready to see what is going to occur,” Quiros mentioned, including he was apprehensive about how lengthy it might take for issues to return to regular. “We do not know when this may finish.”

Pablo Leyton, one other farm laborer, mentioned he beforehand labored 48 hours per week, being the primary bread winner for his household. Now his working hours have been halved to 24 hours.

“It is troublesome for me to take so little residence to my household,” he mentioned.

(Reporting by Hector Guzman in Cartago, Costa Rica; Writing by Stefanie Eschenbacher; Enhancing by Rosalba O’Brien)

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