Heavy rains in Costa Rica have led to flooding that has impacted on plantain, banana and other horticultural crops, website Nacion.com reported.

A Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) report said the worst hit areas were the southern Caribbean, Matina, Siquirres and zones to the east of Cartago.

MAG regional operations senior director Erick Quirós, said evaluations of damages were still underway and a figure could be known later in the week.

He said plantain plantations had losses between 30-40% and cocoa farms had also experienced problems.

Other affected crops were bananas, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash and carrots.

National Banana Corporation (Corbana) general manager Jorge Sauma, confirmed with the website there were farms affected in the Siquirres area on the banks of the Reventazón river.

He said the rains had also distorted levels in the area's dams, presenting potential problems for the future.

Sauma added that Corbana-owned farms in the Estrella Valley that are leased to Del Monte have also been impacted.

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