New storm renews threat to region’s battered crops

Tropical Storm Matthew formed over the western Caribbean and was expected to hit Central America as early as today, the US National Hurricane Center said.

The storm, which had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph, could disrupt the coffee harvest due to begin early next month in major regional exporters Honduras and Guatemala.

Nicaragua has already slashed its estimate for the 2010/11 season after months of heavy rains battered crops and roads.

Original source: Reuters