Nicaragua
Recent data indicates that Nicaragua’s agricultural
sector represents 19.6 percent of GDP and employs
more than 29 percent of the economically active
population. The agricultural sector in Nicaragua
suffers from drought and poor irrigation systems,
limited infrastructure, and inadequate credit at
high interest rates. Without the means to offset
the resulting shortfall in domestic food production
with commercial imports, Nicaragua is a large food
aid recipient. Raw coffee, beef, sugar, peanuts,
rice, poultry and horticultural production are among
the leading agricultural products. Top Nicaraguan
agricultural exports are raw coffee, spices, beef,
sugar, peanuts, hardwood, shrimp and lobster. Top
Nicaraguan agricultural imports include rice, wheat,
yellow corn, soybean meal and soybean oil. In FY
2008, U.S. agricultural, fish and forest product
exports to Nicaragua totaled over $217 million.
Nicaraguan agricultural, fish and forest product
exports to the United States in FY 2008 totaled over
$440 million. Nicaragua has been a Dominican
Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR)
member since April, 2006.
Population:
5.78 million
GDP per capita:
$2,800
Agriculture:
19.6 percent of GDP
Agricultural Production:
coffee, beef,
sugar, peanuts, rice, poultry
Major Nicaraguan Agricultural Exports:
coffee, spices,
beef, sugar, peanuts, hardwood, shrimp and lobster
Major U.S. Agricultural Exports to Nicaragua:
Wheat, coarse grains, rice, soybean meal and soybean
oil
Economic, Political,
and Demographic Information
