Through information solutions based on the use of satellite photos, the application of classification models and the implementation of machine learning algorithms, it is possible to optimize the management of large plantations and minimize the risks faced by crops that affect profitability per hectare planted.
The growing availability of data that exists today is leading companies to seek new ways and tools to take advantage of this huge wave of information that is being generated in different business sectors.
After the Panamanian government agreed to ban the entry of animal products from Costa Rica, Panamanian businessmen supported the measure and asked to discuss the export and import requirements, since they claim that their agricultural products are prevented from accessing the Costa Rican market.
The trade dispute began when on July 10 Panama informed the National Animal Health Service (SENASA) of the Costa Rican Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) of the decision not to extend export authorization to a list of previously authorized Costa Rican establishments that have been exporting to Panama for many years.
In Costa Rica, companies in the agricultural and fishing sectors will not have to use the mandatory electronic receipt system until October 2019.
The government has decided to postpone the entry into force of the electronic receipt system for these two sectors, with the aim of having more time to better implement the system and solve the problem of internet access that several producers claim to have.
In the first quarter of 2018, companies in the country imported $34 million worth of fertilizers, and purchases in Russia totaled $12 million, 45% more than in the same period in 2017.
Figures from the information system on the Fertilizer Market in Costa Rica, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with graph"]
Although businessmen in the sector claim to have enough supplies to meet demand in the agricultural cycle, the crisis in Nicaragua is causing problems in the transportation of goods.
Distributors of agrochemicals report that due to the political crisis and the multiple closures and demonstrations on roads in the country, the main challenge they face is the transporting products to different areas of the country.
Explained by sales to the Netherlands, last year Central America exported $1.344 billion worth of palm oil and its fractions, 74% more than in 2016.
Figures from the information system on the Palm Oil Market and its Fractions in Central America, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption = "Click to interact with graph"]
American Vanguard Corporation has announced the acquisition of Grupo Agricenter, dedicated to the production and commercialization of crop protection products in Central America.
From a statement issued by Agricenter:
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--American Vanguard Corporation (NYSE:AVD) announced today that its wholly owned subsidiary AMVAC Netherlands BV, will acquire Grupo Agricenter to reinforce its commercial, technical and development structure in the Latin-American region. AMVAC has been a key player in the Latin American agricultural sector for more than a decade and has become a leader in the nematicides segment for crops such as banana and pineapple. The acquisition of Grupo Agricenter, a well-established distributor of multiple crop protection products in seven Central American and Caribbean countries, will considerably expand AMVAC’s product and service offerings in the region.
Resources allocated to research and innovation to generate greater added value in the agricultural sector are said to be insufficient.
The potential for growth in agricultural activity in Nicaragua could be greater if long-term research and innovation programs were developed.Increasing public and private investment in academic training, research centers and sustainable agricultural development programs would help to improve the performance of the sector.
Projections for 2017-2018 are to plant an area of 1.7 million manzanas (a unit equivalent to 1.72 acres), in the cattle sector 865 thousand head of cattle are expected to be slaughtered and, in the dairy industry the expected projections are of 280 million gallons.
The Plan for Production, Consumption and Trade in the 2017-2018 Cycle includes details of the Nicaraguan government's projections for agricultural, livestock, poultry, aquaculture and forestry sectors for the current year and the next.
The government is preparing a registration system that requires pork producers to mark their pigs in order to combat smuggling through the use of phytosanitary and traceability controls.
The aim is to have the agreement in late January, which would start with 88 producers enrolled in the Association of Pork Producers of Guatemala (APOGUA), in order to have an animal traceability system, prevent the illegal entry of pigs and prevent arrival of illnesses from Mexico.
On December 2 a conference will be held in Liberia, Costa Rica, on trends and characteristics of the wholesale marketing of agricultural products.
The Integral (PIMA) Agricultural Marketing Program of Costa Rica convened the event to be held on December 2 at the University of Costa Rica in Liberia, Guanacaste.
The main objective of this Congress is to analyze the system of wholesale marketing of food products in Costa Rica, to establish the implications for the national economy.
A bill proposes extending to the agribusiness sector the incentives outlined in Law 28, such as exemption from export tax and import of raw materials.
From a statement issued by from the National Assembly:
Extending the benefits of Law 28 of 1995 on the organization of production incentives, better known by its initals (in Spanish) ROI, was proposed through a bill put forward by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
The union Camagro claims that in the last six months adverse investment and employment conditions have become more pronounced.
From a statement issued by Camagro:
The members of the Chamber dedicated to agricultural, agro-industrial and agri-export activities in the 22 departments of the country, expressed through a press release, that they believe that the country's competitiveness is still not being unattended to, and that during these six months the Government has caused adverse investment and employment conditions to be more pronounced.The three most criticised ministries being: the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Communications and the Ministry of the Interior, for the main reasons which are summarized as follows:
The third edition of the International Agricultural Fair will be held in San Pedro Sula on 19 and 20 May 2016, at the Expocentro Convention Center.
From a statement issued by Agromercados 2016:
The event aims to act as a meeting point in Honduras between public and private actors representing the different links in the agricultural chain (producers, domestic and international buyers, agro-exporters, agribusiness, financial sector, raw material suppliers, packaging, services, public entities and cooperatives, etc.) in order to promote business deals. More than 1,000 visitors are expected.
The government intends to develop, using public-private partnership model, a distribution center for agricultural products.
The central government has presented the initiative to representatives of the Chamber of Agriculture and Agribusiness (Camargo), and estimated that the work would require an investment of between $80 million and $100 million.