The Japanese market for pork, organ meats, sausages and pork derivatives coming from Costa Rica has reopened.
The next step in the process is identifying companies interested in exporting pork products to the Asian nation.
From a press release issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock:
"After a process that began in 2012 under the framework of the objectives of the National Swine Commission, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan recently announced to the authorities of the National Animal Health Service (SENASA) at the Ministry of Agriculture, that this country recognizes the status of Costa Rica as a country free of swine fever and has reopened its market not only pork, but also offal and other derivatives as well as pork sausages."
The extension of the deadline for the implementation of the decree that eliminates the rice price fixing mechanism, represents a transfer of $75 million from the pockets of consumers towards the rice sector.
For years other countries have criticized the pricing of rice in Costa Rica considering it a subsidy and violation of defined limits.
" ... The maximum allowance agreed for the sector is $15.94 million per year but for 2013 it has been estimated at $75 million. Violation of the agreement is grounds for a complaint, which could attract sanctions against Costa Rican exports from some partners."
A year after the declaration of a state of emergency by the government because of the rust blight, 25,000 farmers are still waiting for the bureaucracy to enable the operation of a $40 million trust fund.
The money has already been deposited in an account with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG), but the Comptroller General of the Republic must endorse the trust no later than January 17th.
Agencies in charge of the certification of organic products for export must meet new regulations set by the European Union.
From a press release by the State Phytosanitary Service:
In 2014 new regulations will govern EU organic products.
The MAG will support certification agencies and producers in complying with new requirements.
From January 2014 Certifying Agencies for organic products and the Phytosanitary Service (SFE by its initials in Spanish) at the Ministry of Agriculture will have to comply with the new rules established by the European Union with the objective of ensuring in more detail the implementation of the requirements that define a product as an organic vegetable.
In Costa Rica there has been an increase in the incidence Diaspis boisduvalii and Pseudococcus elisae mealybug in crops on the Atlantic slope.
From a press release by the State Phytosanitary Service (SFE):
The State Phytosanitary Service of the Ministry of Agriculture has declared a national emergency for the term of one year, due to increasing populations with the Diaspis boisduvalii and Pseudococcus elisae mealybug which are causing severe damage to banana crops. It is estimated that the impact has affected about 24 thousand hectares, according to data provided by CORBANA and the National Commission of Musaceae.
Coffee farmers will receive funding from the NAMA Facility Fund of Anglo-German capital in order to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases and improve their competitiveness.
Nación.com reports: "With that money, the idea is to make the national coffee production greener through four areas: reducing the use of nitrogen fertilizers, new uses for drills, planting trees in coffee plantations and using water and energy efficiently in processing plants. "
The country has launched an international promotion of the initiative in order to position the guarantee of origin of Costa Rica Coffee.
The main objective is to obtain a distinct recognition in grain prices. "What follows now is to start working on certification. Today we have only just launched the idea, we need to develop a protocol and send the proposal to our most significant trading partners," said Xinia Chaves, Deputy Minister of Agriculture..
Costa Rica needs 75,000 coffee pickers for the harvesting which starts in November and another 7,350 people to harvest sugar cane and melon.
This was announced by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MTSS) who in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, the Agro-Industrial Sugarcane League (LAY) and the Costa Rican Coffee Institute (iCafe), conducted a campaign to find those 82,350 employees for the harvest season which runs from November to April.
In the last year 11 rice industries invested $14 million to deal with changes in the international market and local pricing.
Nacion.com reports: "These investments are being made in the new context that is expected with the liberalization of grain prices from 1 March 2014 and the start, two years later, of the gradual reduction of 35% tariffs on imports from the U.S.".
The regulations for the property tax applicable to agricultural real estate is currently under consultation in Costa Rica.
From a press release issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock of Costa Rica:
Now available for public consultation is the proposed Regulation Act 9071, "Special Regulations Act on the Implementation of the Law on Property Tax, Act 7509 of May 9, 1985 and Amendments to Agricultural Land Use."
During the 2012 harvest some 280 thousand metric tons were collected, 75% more than the 2011 harvest.
These figures were provided by the Ministry of Agriculture (MAG).
Improved agronomic management and the decision by the producers to diversify into other crops, have been some of the reasons for the growth. The country has used new genetic materials that have allowed some five thousand producers to double the number of trees per hectare, going from 400-800 trees.
A bill has been presented that would force to buy all domestic production as a precondition to any imports.
The plan is to create the National Regulatory Commission on Production and Marketing of White Maize in order to strengthen bean and white maize producers in Costa Rica.
The bill was introduced in the Costa Rican Congress by Rep. Walter Céspedes.
The idea is to protect local industry and promote the development of a national fishing fleet.
A bill has been designed to regulate the taxes paid by foreign vessels fishing for tuna in Costa Rican waters.
The proposal was introduced to Congress by Rep. José María Villalta, who seeks to reform and repeal several articles of the Law on Fisheries and Aquaculture.
The international crisis and exchange rate fluctuations caused the sector to export 7% less during the first seven months of 2013 than in the same period of 2012.
The Costa Rican agricultural sector is not experiencing good times. Nacion.com reports: "According to the monthly index of economic activity (MIEA), the agricultural sector has registered a decline since August 2012, when it grew by 4.46%.
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