The weekly monitoring carried out on rice crops by the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA) shows that until yesterday, Friday, June 10, 2022, Panama had planted more than 23 thousand hectares of rice, that is, 2,845 more than during the same period. last year, this despite the rise in fuel and high prices of inputs and fertilizers.
According to Mida, this figure is the result of an analysis carried out by the National Directorate of Agriculture to determine the growth rate of the area prepared and planted with this important food, in order to guarantee the supply of rice in the country.
The document details that in total they have prepared 25 thousand 375 hectares to date, with the participation of 524 producers and the total number of hectares planted is 23,624.2, with 508 producers, which maintains a favorable growth rate of approximately 3 thousand hectares per week. in the latest records.
According to the National Director of Agriculture of the MIDA, Reynaldo Solís, for the agricultural year 2022-2023, the planting of 90,000 hectares was scheduled, with the participation of 1,443 producers, with a harvest projection of 429,998 MT, that is, 9,459,950 QQ , with an average yield of 105 quintals per hectare.
Solís highlighted that in terms of planted area, 23,624.2 hectares were reported planted by 508 producers; which represents 26.2% of the annual program (90,000 Ha). In addition, that of the total planted, 94.2% is rainfed (22,242.9 Ha with 489 producers) and 5.8% with an irrigation system (1,381.3 Ha with 19 producers). Compared to the same period of the previous agricultural year, 20,779 hectares were counted, for which an increase of 2,845 hectares (Ha) is observed.
Regarding prepared area, 25,375 Ha are reported, for sowing by 524 producers; which represent 28.19% of what is programmed at the national level for the agricultural year 2022-2023. Of the total prepared, 94.56% is rainfed (23,993.7 hectares of 505 producers) and 5.44% Irrigation (1,381.3 hectares of 19 producers).
Until the moment of the total planted, the province of Chiriquí registers the highest percentage of planting with 39.3% (9,280.5 Ha with 307 producers), and is followed in descending order by Panama East, with 17.8% (4,213.6 Ha of 55 producers), Darién with 13.8% (3,252.9 Ha with 33 producers), Veraguas with 13.5% (3,199.3 Ha with 60 producers) Los Santos 7.8% (1,845.4 Ha with 28 Producers), Coclé 5.7% (1,335.6 Ha with 16 producers) and Herrera 2.1% (496.9 It has 9 producers).
