Panama: Potato and onion supplies guaranteed for the end of the year without imports

The Minister of Agricultural Development (MIDA), Roberto Linares, assured that Panama will have enough potatoes and onions to cover the end-of-year demand, ruling out, for now, the need to make imports.

The statement was made during a meeting of the agri-food chain for these items, held on November 13 at the headquarters of the Association of the Highland Producer Community (ACPTA), in Paso Ancho, Highlands district, Chiriquí, where available inventories, production projections and progress of actions against smuggling were reviewed.

The president of the ACPTA, Lorenzo Jiménez, agreed with the minister, stating that December will bring a good harvest, so “imports will not be necessary.”

“With the projected production, we shouldn’t have any problems supplying this month; and for December, we expect an overproduction of over 50,000 quintals, unless there is some unusual weather, which is possible because we don’t control nature, but as things stand now, imports are not needed,” Jiménez stated.

The Minister of MIDA also addressed the issue of excessive imports and assured that, as a government, they will not make any decisions that go against national production.

“Producers will always have the support (of the Government); and I believe that the way to resolve this is as we are doing it: all united and rowing in the same direction,” said the head of the agricultural ministry.

Linares also acknowledged the efforts of potato and onion producers, highlighting that both crops have the potential to become exportable in the near future. “Onion and potato producers are becoming more efficient and producing more every day. We expect that, in a couple of years—and I’m sure of it—we will not only be self-sufficient, but we will also become exporters,” he projected.