An agricultural union is claiming losses of $1.4 million because of purchase of pesticides that the government decided to restrict.
The National Commission of Registration and Control of Toxic Substances created by the Government in February, restricted from coming into the country 12 agrochemicals. Agricultural unions are asking the Office of the President for this restriction to be reversed, because among other things, this has resulted in losses of $1.4 million from the purchase of products that can no longer be used.
Work is being done on producing better chia seeds in the country in order to meet the demands of international buyers.
Despite being one of the fastest growing crops in Nicaragua, the current shortage of chia seeds could hinder production. For this reason, the Association of Producers and Exporters of Nicaragua (APEN) is working on the production of a new seed that meets the demands of international buyers.
Producers and regional governments are working on a new law that will regulate the technical management and cultivation of oil palm areas.
According to Humberto Abella, Chief of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (Magfor) in the South Atlantic Autonomous Region (RAAS) , this year the Nicaraguan Mandatory Technical Regulation (NTON by its initials in Spanish) on the cultivation of oil palm will be approved.
About 20 thousand acres are to be planted with the grain in the next few years, in order to produce up to one million quintals of coffee.
This was stated by the President of MerconCoffee Group, José Antonio Baltodano. "In the Atlantic Coast there should now be planted 2,500 hectares of robusta, whose production potential within three years could be about 100 million quintals, which would mostly be for export as local consumption is mostly of instant coffee and is small," he explained.
The variety can only be planted in some areas of the South Atlantic Autonomous Region and the North Atlantic Autonomous Region.
This is what has been established by a ministerial agreement published by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (Magfor). "In protected areas such as Bosawás, Cola Blanca, Cerro Bolivia, Cerro Banacruz, Wawashang and Rio Indio Maiz, among others, it is not permitted to sow or sell that variety, and in the North Atlantic Autonomous Region (RAAN) the Waslala area is also excluded" reported Elnuevodiario.com.ni.
During 2012 peanut sales abroad totaled $133 million, nearly four times the amount of 10 years ago.
Nicaragua produces three million pounds of peanuts per year, with the region of Chinandega controling 60% of industrialized production and 90% of the grain that is exported.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (Magfor) in the last ten years this has been the best performing export product.
Weather and price conditions bode well for the current crop, which is scheduled for mid August.
Mid-August will see the start of corn and beans harvesting, which is expected to be very positive due to the favorable climate and production conditions.
These good conditions, coupled with the prices of grains, have allowed authorities to foresee very good results from the harvest of about 7.7 million quintals of white corn, 1.41 million quintals of beans and 1.91 million quintals of upland rice .