During the first quarter of 2024, there could be food shortages as a result of the crisis caused by the demonstrations against the mining contract.
This was said by Ovidio Saavedra, president of the National Livestock Association (Anagan). Projections point in that direction.
“There will be no shortage of food, but we predict that in the first quarter, especially in February, there may be a food shortage because the production cycle is interrupted, with a one-month delay. We predict that there will be a food shortage in February,” Saavedra told Panama America.
More than five weeks of street blockades left the livestock sector with estimated losses of between $9 million and $10 million.
However, Saavedra rules out that this situation could lead to an increase in product prices.
The dairy sector is the most affected and its losses cannot yet be quantified considering that different parties are affected. Saavedra explained that he can reduce the amount milk produced by animals or suffering from diseases.
“If the cow stops milking, she loses amount of milk and in order to return to normal production, she must give birth again. It would take more than nine months, this is a long time, it is not like a faucet that opens and closes and gives water,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, the deputy minister of agricultural development, Alexis Pineda, said this week that MIDA is preparing a list, together with the dairy industry and some processing companies, of producers affected by road closures, especially milk producers. degree C.
As for meat, Saavedra pointed out that the effects were minor, despite the reduction in the purchase and sale of animals.
“The auction was operating at 30 percent capacity. By not going to the slaughterhouse, the producer stopped fulfilling some of his obligations to banks or import houses,” he added.
According to the Institute for Statistics and Census (INEC), 27,156 cattle were slaughtered in October 2023, the second lowest figure recorded this year, surpassed only by the 26,147 slaughtered in April.
Preliminary figures for 2023 are also lower than last year. By October, they sacrificed themselves 287,763 animals, while for the same period in 2022, that amount was 295,145.
Source: Panama America
I am Jason Root, author with 24 Instant News. I specialize in the Economy section, and have been writing for this sector for the past three years. My work focuses on the latest economic developments around the world and how these developments impact businesses and people’s lives. I also write about current trends in economics, business strategies and investments.
