Bud Posted June 21, 2016 Share Posted June 21, 2016 My commentary here: my initial reaction when reading this article was "you gotta be kidding". But alas, it appears that they are serious. If I am reading this correctly, Panama produces approximately only 50% of the milk that it consumes. Wow. Quote Milk Shortage in Panama The annual shortfall of milk in the country, where local production only reaches 200 million, has been estimated at 100 million liters. Friday, June 17, 2016 Local producers of milk and meat argue that one of the main reasons is the fact that not all of the dairy herd is currently producing, because ".... during the recent dry season many cows were sold". However, there are more fundamental reasons that explain the shortfall in a country that consumes 300 million liters of milk every year.Prensa.com reports that "... Ranchers are warning there is a need to make timely decisions so that the livestock sector does not go back to recording losses economically or in terms of animals. Investment in irrigation, promoting sustainable livestock and supporting producers with agricultural loans which do not have high interest rates, are some of the measures demanded by local farmers to promote the sector.""... ' It is essential to invest in a quality irrigation system and also support livestock producers with loans that benefit rather than harm them," said Luis Martinez, producer of meat and milk from the Azuero region." http://www.centralamericadata.com/en/article/main/Milk_Shortage_in_Panama Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bud Posted June 21, 2016 Author Share Posted June 21, 2016 A bit more research turns up an article from June 2015 (see below link) that says Panama produces only 46% of its milk. The remainder has to be imported. One reason given for the shortfall is lack of good water. The cows have less water to drink. I also read that Panama implemented a milk production subsidy of $0.10 per liter of milk produced. That subsidy began in September 2015 and is scheduled to terminate in December 2016. For more details, visit http://www.centralamericadata.com/en/article/home/Will_Panama_Have_to_Import_More_Milk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bud Posted June 21, 2016 Author Share Posted June 21, 2016 Going further back in history, I find the production costs for milk in Chiriqui Province for year 2012 to be $0.51/liter, whereas the milk producer was paid only $0.49/liter. Wouldn't free enterprise principles fix this unsustainable imbalance without governmental intervention? Am I missing the big picture here? For more background info, see: http://www.centralamericadata.com/en/article/home/Milk_Producers_Demand_Better_Prices Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Woolford Posted June 21, 2016 Share Posted June 21, 2016 Bud, you might ask CL member Price Petersen of Hacienda Esmerelda to explain Milk production and marketing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bud Posted June 21, 2016 Author Share Posted June 21, 2016 Good suggestion, Keith. I frequently see Price in one of my regular gatherings, and will ask him the next time I see him. He is a CL member but doesn't check in frequently. I'll ask him to put his thoughts regarding the milk industry here on CL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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