Every year about 130 million liters of milk are imported in solid or concentrated form for industrialization.
Prensa.com reports: "These imports are the result of a market which is thirsty and unsatisfied with the 100% local raw material . But rather than being a weakness, some would argue that there is a clear opportunity for local producers. "
One aspect in favor of the local dairy industry is that around 330 million liters of milk consumed a year. "Beyond the technical aspects, challenges for the sector really revolve around organizational elements," said Alejandro Acosta, Livestock Development Officer of the United Nations Organization for Food and Agriculture (FAO) .
There were 1,575,779 head of cattle on 45,780 ranches, an increase of 14.2% compared to the figures reported in 2011.
From a press release issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG):
In our country, the cattle herd is 1,575,779 head of cattle and there are 45,780 cattle farms, these are the results of a livestock survey, presented on Tuesday by Gloria Abraham, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) and Leonardo Luconi , President of the Livestock Corporation (CORFOGA).
Lack of livestock traceability is preventing access of meat to the European market, for which there is a quota of 9,000 tons.
The biggest challenge facing the region is to meet the health, environmental and competitiveness standards demanded by those markets, said Alexander Acosta, from the United Nations Organization for Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
The Outlook for Agriculture and Rural Development in the Americas: A perspective on Latin America and the Caribbean 2011-2012.
ECLAC, FAO and IICA press release:
San Jose, Costa Rica, October 21 (ECLAC/FAO/IICA). Despite the current context of volatility and high food prices, in the long term, the agricultural sector in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) will be able to take advantage of the opportunities afforded by having available land - albeit concentrated in a few countries- a relative abundance of water, biodiversity and well-educated human resources.
The Outlook for Agriculture and Rural Development in the Americas: A perspective on Latin America and the Caribbean 2011-2012.
ECLAC, FAO and IICA press release:
San Jose, Costa Rica, October 21 (ECLAC/FAO/IICA). Despite the current context of volatility and high food prices, in the long term, the agricultural sector in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) will be able to take advantage of the opportunities afforded by having available land - albeit concentrated in a few countries- a relative abundance of water, biodiversity and well-educated human resources.
Increased demand, especially in emerging countries, has determined growth in the sector since 2008.
Studies by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), predict for the period 2008 to 2018, an increase in consumption of 33% in butter, 32% in whole powdered milk, 22% in cheese and 19% in the skimmed powdered milk.
The Panamanian cattle herd grew from 762 thousand heads in 1961 to 1.6 million in 2008 and needs to strengthen its sustainable development.
Alejandro Acosta, Livestock Development Officer of FAO, states on an article in Prensa.com, "if there are no changes in production systems, by 2050, the number of hectares of pastures in Panama will have increased about 45 % from 535 thousand hectares in 2008 to 2,335 hectares in 2050.