After photos and videos of commercial establishments that did not have first-class rice for sale circulated on social networks and the alleged conditioning of the sale of this item due to scarcity was denounced, the authorities of the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA) denied this situation.
According to Reinaldo Solís, National Director of Agriculture of the MIDA, up to now there is no shortage of rice since in the last inventory that was made, on April 29, there was rice to guarantee the supply until the first week of September.
He stressed that right now rice planting in Panama is being carried out normally and that they are finishing an inventory, which was scheduled a month after the first inventory, to determine the real amount of rice in the country.
“Until May 27 we have planted some 15,746 hectares of rice,” he said.
He said that, at the moment, Panama has the supply capacity, according to what is produced at the national level, so there is no need to even import rice.
He emphasized that the decision to import is made by the Rice Chain, an autonomous entity, which is made up of producers, millers, distributors and members of supermarkets.
Depending on what the inventory shows that should be ready this afternoon, the Rice chain would make the decision whether to import rice or not. In addition, they would determine the specific amount that should be brought into the country.
