Promote policies to reduce food costs

Panama urgently needs to speed up the process of transforming its agri-food chain in order to guarantee healthy and affordable food to the vulnerable population.

The transformation of agri-food systems is important for sustainable development in the social, economic and environmental dimensions, to create more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable systems to achieve healthy nutrition for the entire population, said Daniela Godoy, Senior Policy Officer for FAO Security food.

In this regard, FAO recommended that Panama strengthen markets and supply centers to improve physical access and economic access to nutritious foods that are part of a nutritious diet.

Food security and nutrition are greatly affected in Latin America and the Caribbean, with countries showing signs of rising food prices, FAO’s Chief Food Security Policy Officer explained during a tour of the Panamanian market. A large part of the vulnerable population spends more than the income they earn on food, the Food and Agriculture Officer (FAO) told Panamanian authorities.

Panama is facing a serious malnutrition crisis affecting both children and adults, explained Israel Ríos, nutrition officer for Latin America and the Caribbean of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

From 10% of children under the age of 5 who are overweight, according to the 2008 survey, it has risen to 13% in 2019 and 40% of school-age children, who are already overweight today. It is even more critical in the adult population, where 72% of adults are overweight, and around 36% are already obese.

High food prices continue to be a major concern of Panamanians.

‘

80

million pounds of product processed at post-harvest centers in 2022.

1.9

million pounds was the average handling at major hubs during April 2023.

The national consumer price index in cities for March recorded a year-on-year variation of 1.3%, while during the first quarter of this year it was 2.0%, with 0.1% corresponding to the food group.

According to the report, in Panama, the food that showed the largest upward variation was the fish class at 2.2%, due to rising fish and shrimp prices; fruit 1.8%, milk, cheese and eggs 1.0%.

Meanwhile, the basic family food basket reached a minimum price of $271.35 and a maximum of $320.26 during the month of March for Panama and San Miguelito counties, according to Acodeca’s Department of Price Information and Verification (Diprev). . Legumes and fruits recorded an increase in prices, while vegetables and greens recorded a decrease.

Ranth Berard, manager of Merca Panama, met with the FAO team to discuss issues of public food management policies with the aim of achieving rapprochement between producers and consumers, as well as training on issues, management and marketing.

The ability to supply Panama City is a challenge of logistics, capacity, taste and consumption to identify the products with the highest and lowest demand to benefit consumers mainly in terms of cost, Berard said.

About 80 million pounds of produce were processed at post-harvest handling centers in 2022, a figure expected to exceed this year, said Ranth Berard, manager of Merca Panama.