Oil in containers measuring from 1.7 to 2 liters can enter Panama duty-free for a year.
Through a Cabinet Decree, the Panamanian government has removed the tariff, for one year, on imports of soybean oil in bottles of 1.7 liters and 2 liters. It is established that other refined oils will incur a 10% tariff.
"... The decision to eliminate the tariff on soybean oil is because this product is part of the six foods that President (Ricardo Martinelli) announced will be sold at low cost in the so called jumbo fairs and jumbo shops," said Oscar Osorio, Minister of Agriculture.
An agreement has been made with over 300 producers to buy at $22.5 a quintal the surplus that has not been placed on the market.
From a press release issued by the Presidency of Panama:
The national government will buy rice production through the Institute of Agricultural Marketing at a price of $22.50 per quintal following a consensus reached between the authorities and representatives from the Cocle Association of Rice Producers (ACOPRA) who met at Palacio de las Garzas.
30% of grain plantations in the province of Chiriqui are being affected by an outbreak of the mite Spinky.
This pest is "... considered one of the most hazardous in the world, having the peculiarity of multiplying very fast in plantations and thereby affecting yields per hectare", reported Prensa.com.
According to authorities, the outbreak appeared because farmers are using seeds which are contaminated and of dubious origin.
The adoption of the standard correlated with international standards for the meat trade continues to be delayed in the Legislative Assembly.
Meanwhile the industry and administrative authorities are preparing a visit to Uruguay, one of the world's leading exporters of beef, which is "the only country in the region that has made all of its livestock production traceable."
The implementation of the system can no longer be delayed without undermining agricultural exports to the European Union.
Oscar Osorio, the Minister of Agriculture, hopes that the bill on Agricultural and Animal Traceability will be approved in three months, enabling the country to meet the international demand and thereby ensure food security. However, this project is not even on the agenda for discussion by the Panamanian Congress.
The disadvantage in terms of productivity and prices of Panamanian rice farmers against major world producers, has trapped producers, many of whom are abandoning the crop.
If this problem is not resolved, consequences will start to be felt. The country could stop planting about 20,000 hectares, said sources close to the sector.
The leader of the Rice Growers Association of Chiriqui (Apach), Carlos Santanach, said there are issues to be further discussed with the government such as financing, the use of irrigation, the rearrangement of imports and the adequacy of land.
Besides buying red beans, black beans and rice, agreements have been made for the regulation of imports, seeking funding for the sector, and production insurance payments.
The agreement reached between producers and the Government of the country, states that the Institute of Agricultural Marketing (IMA by its initials in Spanish), will buy 50 thousand quintals of red beans at $65 per quintal, and 38,000 quintals of black beans at $45 per quintal.
Importing breeding cows and strengthening programs for embryo transfer and artificial insemination, are some of the initiatives proposed in order to increase milk production.
From a press release from the Ministry of Agricultural Development of Panama (MIDA):
The Secretary of Agriculture, Oscar Osorio Casal, met with members of various dairy guilds from around the country, in order to structure a joint project to increase milk production in the country.
After having lowered tariffs on several agricultural products, the government of Panama is offering productivity bonuses to farmers of industrial tomatoes, pigeon peas, beans and coffee.
Laprensa.com reports that "As of October 24, 2012, the import tariff on industrial tomato and instant coffee went from 81% to 10%. While for beans and pigeon peas the tariff which had been set at 15%, was removed. "
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