Panama depends on an external supply of milk for 46% of its consumption, which is equivalent to approximately 130 million liters per year. 85% of local production is driven by small and medium producers, with current yields being less than 5 liters of milk per cow per day.

Maximo Cedeno, member of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, told Prensa.com that "... cattle that still grazes in the region has fallen by 40% by weight and 50% in milk production, because they are only drinking water twice a day, which makes the situation 'very critical and there are already thousands of dollars in losses' ... ".

Mercedes De Leon, a carrier in the area, said that "... of the 3000 liters that used to be transported during the rainy season, only is 800 liters is currently moves per day ...". the reason for this is "... the cattle have lost weight because of the lack of water and pasture ...".

Source: Prensa.com

More on this topic

Panama Now Subsidizes Milk

September 2015

The government has given approval to granting farmers a subsidy of $0.10 per liter of milk produced, until December 2016.

The grant was approved by the Cabinet at the request of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, for dairy farmers who days ago cited profitability problems, now compounded by the effects of drought.

Lala Impacts Dairy Sector

May 2015

The start of operations by Lala will have a favorable impact on the conditions of production and quality of milk and stabilize the price of milk for producers.

The start of operations of a plant with capacity to process up to 300 thousand liters of milk per day will result in benefits not only for the production sector, which could sell most of the expressed milk, but also force an improvement in the regional dairy market conditions, infrastructure and production practices related to animal feed, sanitary measures, among other things.

Arrival of Grupo Lala in Nicaragua Confirmed

October 2013

The Mexican company will invest $50 million in a plant to process 200,000 liters of milk a day.

The information was released by Alvaro Baltodano, presidential delegate for investment, adding that Lala will process 75% of the milk produced in the country, because Nicaragua only takes advantage of 25% of what it produces.

Drought Affecting Milk Production in Panama

July 2012

In the Azuero region, the most affected by the lack of rain, milk production has fallen by 80%.

Under normal conditions, the region produces an average of 25,000 liters per day, but currently it is only making 5,000.

According to a report in Prensa.com, in some areas such as Corozal and El Cedro, 90% of water sources have dried up.