The US Rice Producers Association stands in solidarity with the people of Guatemala and ARROZGUA. Tropical storm Eta has affected over 144,000 people just in the country of Guatemala, with the official death toll at 42 as of Tuesday morning.

Among those affected, the rice producers of Guatemala have been severely impacted by this natural disaster which took its toll during harvest, causing major losses in production. Guatemala produces approximately 715,000 cwt of paddy rice per year in an area of ​​roughly 13,200 acres throughout the country.

"We estimate that the producers with the greatest loss are those in the northern areas of Las Verapaces and Izabal, where we have a good part of our national production, which is already going through difficult times due to political measures. We are in constant communication with the affected rice producers, to whom we express our solidarity and moral support in the face of the damage caused by the tropical storm Eta”, said Sergio García, President of Arrozgua.

“We are shocked to see the pictures of totally flooded land. At just one farm more than 600 acres of rice were lost ready for harvest. We sympathize with them and with all those affected in our country and ask the population will follow the recommendations of the authorities, in these difficult times,” said Roberto Wong, Executive Director of Arrozgua.