Drought and unfair policies cornering producers

Drought and unfair marketing policies lash the country's food security, affecting the main items of the Panamanian diet such as rice, meat, milk, onion, potato, say the producers from different parts of the country.

Only in 2015 and so far in 2016 losses amounted to $ 70 million, according to the Minister of Agriculture, Jorge Arango.

The country experienced between June, July and August 2015 the driest months in 102 years, according to agricultural officials, forcing the national government to declare a state of emergency and experts predict that the summer of 2016 will be even more severe.

Only in the province of Veraguas producers report losses to date, 7 million in rice, maize and pigeon peas, foods that are most impacted by climate change and poor marketing, according to the statements of Maximino Diaz, producer in the region.

These items depend solely on rainfall intensity, say the specialists.

Diaz argues that rice production accumulates a decline of 20 quintals per hectare planted and other sectors does not exceed 70 quintals, considering that regular production is 100 quintals.

Corn losses faced by both germination in the development cycle as the decline in production, resulting in a lost 7000 hectares, a decrease of 30% of the production output nationwide.

Of the 30 thousand hectares of subsistence corn planted in Veraguas, the loss has been complete, and they report producers, according to Diaz.

In the case of pigeon pea, which in this province about 500 hectares planted in 2015 loss of 200 hectares and reduces the yield per hectare of 40% was recorded.

The situation is no different in Highlands and in the central provinces, according Arango, are the most affected regions.

Rogelio Cruz, representing the associations of producers of Highlands in the province of Chiriqui, ensures that the production of potatoes and onions has been 60%, because in addition to the effects of climate change are affected by imports and policies unfair marketing.

The problem is such that Highlands 1,100 hectares of onions were planted and now only occurs in category 300 ha as detailed Cruz.

So it is with potato production, producers have been working just 400 hectares, whereas before production extended to 1,200 hectares.

The production of meat and milk in the country is also being impacted, but most of all by the drought.

Euclides Diaz of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (Anagan) estimates economic losses to dairy farmers degree C, of ​​between 6 million and 10 million dollars and may be higher depending on how severe is the drought in 2016.

He added that forecasts are not very encouraging for the coming months, indicating that water sources will continue to be low, which will force producers to transfer water, increasing the cost of production.

As for meat production, Diaz explained they are having trouble holding steers for fattening and breeding cattle in addition enfrentandopérdida bellies.

It estimated that this sector will fail to receive about 20 million dollars for the wombs that have gone to sacrifice.

Argues that these bellies recover over the next three years will be a challenge and sacrifice will fall over current levels, some 175,000 heads of 420,000 animals would sacrifice in previous years.

The problem transcends the agro industry, affecting exports of items that had traditionally been the engine of international marketing, reveal figures from the Comptroller General of the Republic and corroborate the experts.

Maximino Diaz said that agricultural exports such as watermelon, cantaloupe, squash, yams, papaya, pineapple, have been greatly affected.

Last year from January to November the value of pineapple exports amounted to 20 million 325 thousand US dollars, while in the same period in 2014 the figure was 29 million $ 15,000, according to the Comptroller.

Similarly, the value of exports fell 17.9% watermelon, detailing the latest report of the government entity.

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Datos

5

• millones 404 mil 251 dólares se han desembolsado en indemnizaciones a productores .

17.9%

• bajó la exportación de sandía, durante el año 2015, según la Contraloría.