Costa Rican Cassava Producers Grapple With Lowest Prices in Two Years in W1

Costa Rican cassava producers are facing challenging times with prices hitting a two-year low at USD 0.25 per kilogram (kg) in W1, down from USD 0.74 per kilogram a year ago. The low prices discouraged producers from harvesting, as the income generated does not cover the harvesting costs. This situation prevents less capitalized producers from preparing for new planting and harvest. Only those with strong cash flow or access to credit can afford to plant during these low-price periods. Consequently, there is a forecasted decrease in cassava availability in the market in 9 to 12 months, leading to higher prices.