Like ripples in a pond, the earthquake of October 9th has left another area concern in the Azuero Peninsula. Damaged roads may prevent the transportation of the rice harvest, and as a consequence, resulting in losses for the agricultural sector. The largest volume of rice harvesting is expected in the next 10 to 15 days in Tonosi, one of the main rice producing districts. Once the rice is harvested the challenge will be to transport it to market. Access to roads and bridges will be limited as many were damaged by the earthquake.
Omar Spiegel, president of the Federation of Rice and Grain Producers Associations of Panama (Fapagrap) warned, “The big challenge is to enable these roads so that these 6,000 hectares of rice can be harvested,” The rice is in good condition in the fields, but the infrastructure for transport has been damaged and will possibly prevent producers from completing the harvest.
The risk is not limited to Tonosí. Another 6,000 hectares of rice are cultivated in Mariato and Arenas, and bridges requiring evaluation and possible repairs have also been identified there. Spiegel warned that, if action is not immediate, around 12,000 hectares could be jeopardized by the difficulties in transporting the harvest. A reduced harvest in the affected areas would shorten the period during which the country could be supplied with domestic production. Fortunately other rice producing regions such as Darién, Chiriquí, and Coclé, are maintaining their activity without consequences from the earthquake.
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