Emergency funding to aid drought stricken farmers

AS PANAMA begins a 60 day state of emergency brought on by an extended drought and forecasts of the effects of El Ninon on rainfall likely to carry through until early next year the government has introduce a plan to assist farmers in Los Santos.
It will start next week, says Minister of Agricultural Development Jorge Arango.
At a press conference on Wednesday morning Arango said that he will attend a meeting of the National Economic Council Thursday seeking $5.1 million in emergency funding.
That money will be used to pay for food and veterinary care for farmers. It will also pay for the digging of 150 wells.
Arango said that the sites of the wells will be based on studies carried out by technicians and specialists from the institution.
The aid will include 20,000 bales of hay, 40,000 bottles of vitamins and 40,000 bottles of antibiotics, among other products.
He said that studies are being developed to expand the aid to Herrera, Cocle and Veraguas.
The “state of emergency” is also related to the Panama Canal where restrictions on the size of vessels passing through will kick in in September because of low water levels in Lake Gatun.