The Minister of Agricultural Development, Augusto Valderrama, accompanied by his work team, supported the budget view for 2023, with an allocation of 192.7 million balboas, recommended by the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF), in the Budget Commission of the National Assembly.
Valderrama made a breakdown of the assigned resources, which will be used for technological development, agricultural health, rural agricultural development, payments to programs, as well as payments of grain subsidies, such as rice and corn, among other topics.
Of this total, he pointed out that 64.5 million balboas will be for operations and 128.1 million balboas for investments.
The head of the Mida explained that for this year they seek to strengthen, through programs and projects, family farming, a productive sector in which 80% of small producers are, who are supported with organic fertilizer, improvement of seeds , water harvesting, the A Better Stallion program, the buffalo program and the goat and sheep system, as well as beekeeping for rural women, among others.
He added that additional work is being done with international organizations such as the FAO and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), in addition to the support of the Canal Commission in strengthening coffee and cocoa projects.
He emphasized that what was requested by the institution was 335.7 million balboas, but due to the current situation in the country, a cut was made, leaving 143 million balboas pending, which are being negotiated with the MEF and the National Assembly, so that within the possibilities, when the situation in the country improves, they can be supplied.
He stressed that in last year’s budget, in the same way, they received a cut, but due to the importance of this sector for the country, they were given additional support to fulfill the commitments in giving answers to national producers.
He said that this sector plays an important role, that there has been a special situation with all the problems with the war and the increase in fuel, but that this has been normalizing so there is hope of obtaining the necessary resources.
The head of the agricultural sector thanked the support that this sector has always had from the deputies of the Budget Commission and the entire National Assembly through the allocation of resources for projects, as well as the approval of laws that benefit the agricultural sector.
The members of the Commission, after asking some questions, which were resolved by Minister Valderrama, reiterated their support for the agricultural sector for the benefit of all producers and to guarantee food security in the country.
