Food rots as government dithers

Food rots as government plods

AS MUCH AS 60 percent of the nation’s agricultural yield is lost every year to spoilage caused by inefficiencies in harvesting and transportation, an issue that has failed to be addressed by the current government.

The four post-harvest centers, the first link between the farmers and consumers, do not have the basic equipment for agricultural products reports La Prensa

Only one of the centers, in David, is fully operational. The construction of centers in La Chorrera and Chitré has stalled, and the one in Colón remains in limbo due to issues with the contractor.

In addition, the main agricultural market in Panama City, which was finished two years ago, has not started operating because it lacks water service.

It is expected to open next year once it is connected to the municipal water supply.

“Post-harvest centers are modern facilities without equipment,” said Augusto Jiménez, president of the Highlands Association of Producers “They have nothing more than plastic bins.”

The boosting of the domestic market is aimed at reducing Panama’s dependence on imports.

For example, a facility in Cerro Punta, Chiriquí, has the capacity to store about 70 million pounds of potatoes for three months. But it lacks  the equipment it needs.

The state has invested more than $300 million in improving the agricultural supply chain since 2009, but has little to show from that investment.