usaid office of food for peace guatemala bellmon estimation

Prepared by Fintrac Inc.
Figure 6. 2010 and 2011 Yellow and White Maize Producer Zone Prices (GTQ/Quintal)
Source: BEST calculation based on MAGA prices
Production zone prices for yellow and white maize 137
(north and east for white maize, north for
yellow maize) showed slightly more variation than retail prices from June to August 2010. Since
December 2010, white and yellow maize prices in production areas steadily increased until
August 2011 (Figure 6).
6.2.2. Beans (Black)
Consumers have a very strong preference for black beans. Apparent consumption of black
beans is 22 pounds per person per year. (FAO/WFP 2010). The majority of domestic production
is black beans. Domestic production meets 50 percent of demand. 138
There are two harvests for
beans: May and August.
An average of 50 percent of bean demand is met through imports. Black beans are imported
from Nicaragua, Argentina, and China and then repackaged in Guatemala. Generally, beans are
repackaged without country of origin labels. Poor households are necessarily price-sensitive,
and express a preference for cheaper beans over quality beans. Illegal beans from Mexico
appear to have minimal impact on market. Prices are exchanged and spread through informal
channels and trading networks. However, as discussed below under market integration, bean
prices are less well integrated than other staples. The red bean market is well integrated with
markets in El Salvador.
The beans market appears competitive. The main constraints to market performance are weak
household purchasing power, which limits access, and poor choices.
Current conditions. In 2010, black bean retail prices showed some month-to-month variation.
In the north, prices were relatively low and slightly changed from March until the end of the year.
Prices in the central region showed the most variability in 2010, with prices changing rapidly
particularly from April to August. Prices in the east remained relatively unchanged. In the west
137
MAGA reports local ―acopiador‖ prices as prices from production zone.
138
Information is from bean producer association, exact statistics are unavailable.
BEST Analysis – Country Guatemala Chapter 6 – Distributed Food Aid 87