Costa Rica's Turrialba Volcano threatens to wreak havoc on agriculture

Costa Rica's Turrialba Volcano, an active volcano which erupted in May, 2016, is threatening to wreak havoc on agriculture in the area, burying fields under a blanket of grey ash and turning rivers into muddy torrents of volcanic mud.

Recent eruptions by the volcano, located 36 km east of the capital of San Jose, could affect local crops and dairy production, especially in the more elevated regions of Turrialba, Oreamuno, Tierra Blanca, Alvarado and Coronado. The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock is on high alert.

According to the latest figures, the ash presents a hazard for some 8,252 heads of cattle and at least 261 hectares of crops. Specialial technical assistance is needed to minimize the potential damage.

"It does affect us a lot," farmer Jose Humberto Vargas told Xinhua. "There are several small crops that are burnt by the ash, (and) it harms agriculture and the cattle pastures."

The crops that sustain the most damage are mainly vegetables, though flowers destined for export are also being affected, said agricultural engineer Juan Manuel Cotera.

"If the calla lilies or hydrangeas have any kind of stain, they aren't suitable for export, and when ash gathers on a petal or other part of the plant, it creates an acid stain that makes the flower translucent," explained Cotera.

"That turns into a brown stain that makes the flower unfit for export, or even worse is if it goes with the stain undetected and it damages an entire shipment of flowers that is already in the United States," added Cotera.

The danger to animals lies mainly in ash causing respiratory or digestive problems when cattle ingest grass covered in ash or drink ash-polluted water.

The cattle have been less affected, said Cotera, however if the eruptions continue, the ash could collect in their stomachs.

"Then we would have to take the cattle to other ranches or sacrifice them," he said.

"Milk production has dropped, since the cattle are eating less," said Cotera, estimating each cow is producing one to two liters less than usual.

"When you have 200 cows milking, the loss is substantial," he added.

Residents are aware that Turrialba could continue to spew ash for some time, and several recall the last time the country had a major volcanic eruption, when the nearby Irazu Volcano -- the country's highest -- erupted in 1963.

"There's fear, of course. I was seven years old when the Irazu Volcano blew and it can be pretty serious, very dangerous," said Isamael Mora, who makes artisanal cheeses.

The latest report from the National Emergency Commission, issued on Friday, showed measurements detected a drop in the amount of ash emitted early in the day, after levels had remained steady since Turrialba's last major eruption on Tuesday night. Endit