Panama ministry boosts robusta coffee production in Colón and Panamá Norte

Panama's Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA) is intensifying efforts to bolster robusta coffee production through an expanded National Coffee Plan. This initiative targets 100 producers in the Colón and Panamá Norte regions, aiming to significantly increase the country's output of this specific coffee variety.

The project seeks to achieve multiple objectives: diversifying the nation's agricultural landscape, generating new economic avenues for farming families, and enhancing the overall competitiveness of Panamanian coffee. Over the past six months, MIDA technicians have conducted extensive training sessions, including field days and practical exercises. These cover crucial aspects like plot layout, plant spacing, agronomic management, nutrition, and pest control.

Participants are also learning about pest monitoring, crafting homemade traps for the coffee berry borer, and implementing good agricultural practices to improve yields and quality. The MIDA emphasizes that the targeted zones in Colón and Panamá Norte possess favorable agroclimatic conditions, presenting substantial potential for developing new productive areas.

Key benefits of the plan include strengthening farmers' technical skills, ensuring access to quality planting materials, and facilitating the adoption of new technologies. The MIDA also aims to improve productivity per hectare, support family farming, boost rural incomes, and foster a more sustainable and climate-resilient coffee sector, ultimately enhancing the marketability of Panamanian robusta coffee both domestically and internationally.