In the last five years, beef consumption in Central America increased 4%, from 335,000 tons in 2014 to about 347,000 tons in 2019, growth that was boosted by the Salvadoran and Honduran markets.
Figures from the "Beef Market Snapshot" prepared by the Trade Intelligence Unit of CentralAmericaData, detail that in the last two years’ regional consumption of beef registered a slight increase, since between 2018 and 2019 it is estimated that demand in Central America rose from 341 thousand metric tons to 347 thousand tons.
Following an outbreak of paralytic rabies in Veraguas province, local authorities reported that a cordon sanitaire was established to prevent the spread of the disease.
Representatives of the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA) explained that the quarantined area is equivalent to a 10-km radius from the reported outbreak in Mariato district.
Reports of African Swine Fever in Asia alert countries in the region to strengthen border controls, especially in the management of food waste from airplanes and ships.
The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) urged the strengthening of animal health and public and private veterinary services in the member states to prevent the recurrence of African swine fever (ASF) in the region, the institution warned in a statement.
The regional guild of the sector reported that the volume of milk produced by the countries of the region increased from 3.5 to 3.7 million metric tons between 2015 and 2016.
According to figures from the Central American guilds, the increase in global production registered in 2016, when the most updated statistics exist as a region, is explained by increases reported in all countries, mainly from Costa Rica with 18%, followed by El Salvador with 14%, Guatemala with 13%, Panama with 6%, and Honduras with 4%.
The government has announced the creation of a $19 million trust fund, to be used for lending to stimulate production and improving the herd.
From a statement issued by the Government of Honduras:
President Juan Orlando Hernandez officiated at the company Agribusiness El Corral in Siguatepeque, the creation of a trust that will allow for the provision of $19 million in loans to stimulate production and improve the national cattle herd inventory.
Authorities at the Ministry of Health in Nicaragua have strengthened health checks at the border with Honduras due to the presence of paralytic bovine rabies in the department of Lempira.
Although health authorities have assured that the outbreak now poses no risk to Nicaragua, preventive measures are being implemented such as " ...Controls focusing on 100% of notifications of animals, domestic or wild, suspected of having rabies.