Milk Production Rained Out Despite High Hopes

Constant rains will cause a 50 percent decrease in Panama’s milk production, according to Agriculture Development Minister Emilio Kieswetter.

Belisario Contreras, Presidente of COOLECHE, Panama’s leading Chiriqui-based milk cooperative, says it will be more like 15 to 20 percent less, but the fact remains that pastures are suffering from lack of sunlight.

Panama currently produces 200 million liters and consumes 300 million liters of milk a year, but realizes it needs to produce more, not less, milk.

“Panama is destined to be a [milk] exporting country in the future,” Contreras said. “If we succeed in maximizing the capacity and production potential, we can supply the whole Caribbean basin and neighboring countries, exporting a product of the highest quality. ”

Just this past July, a National Milk Commission was created to establish a political strategy for addressing Panama’s milk deficit.