IMA Director Denies Unfair Competition with Supermarkets

The director of Panama's Agricultural Marketing Institute (IMA), Bernardo Murillo, has directly addressed supermarket concerns, asserting that "no unfair competition exists" from the government's agro-fair program. Murillo defended the program by highlighting the economic realities of its participants.

He explained that studies by the IMA show 92% of individuals purchasing produce at the agro-fairs earn less than $500 per month. This income level, Murillo argued, justifies the program's existence as a vital support for low-income consumers and small-scale farmers.

The IMA's stance comes in response to claims from supermarket associations that the agro-fairs create an uneven playing field. Murillo's comments aim to counter these accusations by emphasizing the social and economic objectives of the agro-fair initiative, positioning it as a necessary service for a significant portion of the population.

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the studies conducted by the entity show that 92% of buyers at agro-fairs perceive incomes below 500 dollars monthly