Agricultural and food policy indicates greater competitiveness

Minister of Agricultural Development, Augusto Valderramaemphasized this Monday that the National Agricultural and Food Policy intends to create a regulatory framework for the next 25 years that provides security to such an important, risky and strategic sector as food production.

According to Valderrama, it is not possible to allow each For 5 years the sector has been in flux as to whether the government will supports excessive imports or defends national production.

“This council created an obligation for organizations belonging to the agricultural, commercial and industrial sectors so that within the framework of the law, and in coordination with the competent ministry, they could establish a monitoring and control group that promotes progress towards competitive agriculture. “, He said.

This Monday, the first meeting of the Council for monitoring and harmonization with the national agricultural and food policy was held.

from his side Carlos Salcedo Advisor to the Minister of Agriculture, he mentioned that the national production gave a sample, in this crisis, that the food solution is effective.

He pointed out that it will only be possible to have cheaper and more available products with security, food sovereignty and productivity, and not with the chimera of imports, as is rumored.

He also considers it crucial to turn subsidies into incentives for productivity, because in his opinion, permanent subsidies are perverse solutions.

“State policy must think about solving the issue of climate change and optimizing land resources. It must also promote association so that producers are empowered throughout the chain, and are not only producers of raw materials. We have a large farm, but a poor one. of raw material production, the producer keeps only 9% of the value of the final product, 92% remains in other links in the chain”, said Salcedo.

While Alicia Jimenezthe main member of the Council for Monitoring and Compliance with Law 352, emphasized that this regulation aims to guarantee the agricultural and food security of the country.

“It is not only about transformation in the agricultural sector in terms of technology and improve economies of scalebut also to educate Panamanians about healthy and nutritious food,” he said.