For the 2019-2020 agricultural cycle, 67,558 hectares of grain have been planted in the country, an area that exceeds in 5% what was reported for the previous harvest.
92.2% of the total rice crop is unirrigated (62,280 hectares with 988 producers) and 7.8% is irrigated (5,278 hectares of 53 producers), informed the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA).
In Panama, the incentive of $7.50 applied to each hundredweight of paddy rice has been extended for the period from July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019.
The Ministry of Agricultural Development (Mida) reported that in addition to the incentive of $7.50, it has been established that the price of a hundredweight of rice will be $17, (depending on the variations that occur in terms of promotions or discounts), which will be paid by the mills and intermediaries to local producers.
Between January 2015 and December 2016, the average price per kilo of rice imported by Central American countries fell from $0.46 to $0.35.
Figures from the information system on the the Rice Market in Central America, compiled by the Business Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAFICA caption="Clic para interactuar con la gráfica"]
With the bill approved in the National Assembly, the intention is to grant more facilities to increase local rice production and for imports to be a last option only in case of shortages.
From a statement issued by the National Assembly of Panama:
The plenary of the National Assembly approved, in a third debate, Bill No.
The government has announced it will buy 500 million hundredweight and will rent agroindustrial infrastructure to store crops in areas in Panama East, Darien and central provinces.
The 500 hundredweight that the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA) is committed to buying from local producers will serve to supply markets run by the Agricultural Marketing Institute (IMA).
The depletion of soils in Los Santos is leading producers to Darien, where rice cultivation has increased by 35% and more than 190 thousand hectares are now dedicated to raising livestock.
At the close of the 2015-16 crop year in the province of Darien almost 5,000 hectares were planted with rice and 192,000 hectares dedicated to cattle, two activities that until recently used to be concentrated in the province of Los Santos.In the case of rice, the increase is 35% from the agricultural year 2012-2013. In Darien,"... their soil moisture, land availability and proximity to the capital city have combined to the benefit of the productive sector."
The increase in 5,800 hectares in the amount of land planted with rice in 2015 will lead to an increase in local production which will reduce imports required to complete supply of the domestic market by almost 50%.
An article on Laestrella.com.pa reports that Jorge Arango, Minister of Agricultural development, said that "... the country has increased domestic production of rice this year, therefore imports of this grain will be reduced ' by nearly half 'what was imported in previous years. "
Despite the fact that grain imports continues to increase, an agreement has been made to raise the price per hundredweight of rice paid by industrial producers to $24.5.
In their enthusiasm to protect domestic agricultural production, the Ministry of Agricultural Development has agreed with producers to increase the price paid per hundredweight of rice produced to $24.50.
The subsidy given to producers of $7.50 per hundredweight of rice which expired on December 31, 2014 has been extended by the government until June 30, 2015.
From a statement issued by the Institute of Agricultural Marketing:
The Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA), through Resolution No. DAL-298-ADM-2014, resolved on 15 September 2014 to give support to rice producers and representatives from mills, with the goal of levelling out sales prices and purchases in this basic category of mass consumption by the population. Industry sources indicated that the government has been asked to provide financial backing to match the sale price of $24.50 per hundredweight of grain, against the purchase price of $17 offered by the representatives from the mills, on the basis of the provisions of the resolution of 15 September 2014.
In Honduras the Rice Producers Association is negotiating with the government conditions for establishing a reference price and proposing fixing at $18.65 per hundredweight.
Taken from ReporteArroz.com:
New Tender by Iraq leaves Latin America in suspense .
The Iraqi state-owned grain company issued on Monday an international tender to buy at least 30,000 tons of rice, as stated by the Ministry of Commerce.
In Costa Rica a quota for 17,000 tons of rice imported from the US has been rejected, due to the alleged presence of pesticide residues.
Taken from Reportearroz.com:
Asia
Now official: Thailand is the largest exporter of rice
With more than 10 million tons of rice, Thailand was the largest rice exporter in 2014. After India held the lead for two years, Thailand this year will be the most important country in terms of rice exports.
Although a subsidy of $20 million for local production has been approved, calls are being made for the suspension of rice imports, even though the local supply is insufficient to meet demand.
According to industry representatives, the importation of rice has turned into a business which caused extensive damage to the rice industry during the past administration.
Calculations by associations of rice farmers in Panama indicate that the total hectares planted this year is less than 40,000, well below the 76,000 that was grown between 1999 and 2001.
Taken from Reportearroz.com:
ASIA
South Korea: Farmers protest against measures for market liberalization.
Thousands of farmers, both in agriculture and livestock sectors, took to the streets in Seoul to oppose the decisions made by the South Korean state to allow the entry of imports of rice from next year and establish an agreement with China, the FTA.
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