Bocas del Toro: Agricultural Insurance Inspects Farms for Rain Damage

Producers in Panama's Bocas del Toro province are facing significant losses after heavy rains, floods, and strong winds in July damaged banana crops and affected livestock. The Institute of Agricultural Insurance (ISA) has begun inspecting farms to assess the damage.

So far, 14 insured producers, eight banana farmers and six cattle ranchers, have reported losses. Preliminary estimates place the financial impact at approximately $14,000. In the banana sector, about eight hectares of crops have been affected. For cattle ranchers, floods led to the death of some animals, according to initial evaluations.

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The persistent rains also complicate the necessary work to control diseases, such as fungi and bacteria, and also affect production, in this case, for all the producers we have insured.

Edmundo Caballero, the regional manager for ISA, explained that persistent rainfall complicates efforts to protect crops from diseases like fungi and bacteria, further impacting production for insured farmers. The inspections are focused on areas including Changuinola, Chiriquí Grande, and regions near the Costa Rican border.

The final assessment of losses will only be possible once water levels recede and technicians can thoroughly evaluate each plot. Caballero stated that a final site visit is planned for the following week to quantify the total damage. Reports on the cattle industry losses have been sent to ISA headquarters, while banana crop inspections will continue. Once completed, the findings will go to the National Adjustment Committee for the final determination of producer indemnities.

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Next week we will be making the final visit to make the final quantification of the damage to these producers, because remember that the beginning of this shows the affected areas, such as flooding, but after the floods pass, we see the real damage in each of the plots.