Agriculture
From The Report: Panama 2015
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Though agricultural development in Panama has historically been hampered by a series of structural issues, including fragmented ownership of land, limited access to financing and deficient transport infrastructure, efforts are now under way to boost agricultural output. According to Panama’s National Institute of Statistics and Census, agriculture and livestock GDP increased steadily over the 2010-13 period, rising from $764.4m to $863.1m. The upward trend came to a halt in 2014, however, with the sector’s GDP falling 0.2% to $861.3m. The sector’s contribution to overall GDP has declined rapidly in the past decade, alongside the continuing industrialisation of the economy; in 2014 it stood at 2.4%, down from 8% in 2000. Soon after assuming office in 2014, President Juan Carlos Varela unveiled a multimillion-dollar plan to boost domestic agricultural production and enhance food security, a move expected to contribute to the revitalisation of the sector in the coming years.

This chapter features an interview with Carlos Fernández, President, Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Pillar of growth: The state is working to boost production and enhance food security
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Agricultural development in Panama has historically been hampered by a series of structural issues, including fragmented ownership of land, limited access to financing and deficient transport infrastructure, although efforts are now under way to change this. Former President Ricardo Martinelli – who was in office from 2009 to 2014 – designated agriculture as one of the country’s four pillars of economic growth. This emphasis on reviving the sector has gainer further impetus under Martinelli’s…

Interview

Carlos Fernández, President, Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama: Interview
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Interview:Carlos Fernández What impact do free trade agreements (FTAs) have on local agriculture and livestock producers, and what strategies could help mitigate this? CARLOS FERNÁNDEZ: Considering that food security has become a global priority, including for Panama, FTAs are essential for guaranteeing access to food for all citizens. These agreements are certainly beneficial, as they give Panamanian producers access they would not have otherwise had to other markets. However, the local…

Analysis

Looking ahead: A multimillion-dollar plan has been launched to revitalise the sector
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On July 29, 2014, soon after assuming office, the government of Juan Carlos Varela unveiled a multimillion-dollar plan to revive the agricultural sector at the National Agriculture Institute (Instituto Nacional de Agricultura, INA). The plan, known as pacto nacional por el agro, or the national pact for agriculture, proposes 10 measures to incentivise local production in an effort to enhance the country’s food security. Restructuring A central part of the plan is the restructuring of INA, which…