Panama will host meetings for the future sustainability of rice production in Latin America and the Caribbean
The sustainability of rice production, the food most consumed in the world, continues to be a major challenge in Latin America, which sees on the horizon challenges in the face of climate change, pests and other obstacles in the post-pandemic, as well as opportunities for, through scientific and technological development, the region becomes a key factor for global food security.
The challenge is enormous, considering that in this part of the world there are countries that are self-sufficient in the supply of cereal to their population, while others are not, including Panama. Within this framework, Panama City will host two meetings in June 2024 that will feature the presence of Latin American experts and other regions to share experiences and knowledge on how research and technology can pave the way for the solid development of the sector.
The XIV International Rice Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean and the Ninth International Conference on Pyricularia in Rice and Wheat will be the scenarios that will provide the opportunity, between June 10 and 14, 2024, in Panama City, for both specialists such as farmers, students and representatives of other relevant economic sectors, can learn about trends in the search for more efficient rice production.
The holding of the meetings was announced in Panama on October 3, and on behalf of the organization of these events, by agronomist Eduardo Graterol, executive director of the Latin American Fund for Irrigated Rice (FLAR).
This will be the first time that the Conference will be held in Panama and Central America, as well as the first time that the Pyricularia Conference will take place in Latin America, both events will be held in parallel.
The conferences are held every four years, but have not taken place respectively since 2018 and 2019, due to the interruption of activities due to the pandemic.
Graterol explained that FLAR is a public-private alliance that brings together more than 30 organizations from 17 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, including Panama, and that has as a strategic member the Bioversity & CIAT Alliance, both centers based in the Colombian city of Cali. Through FLAR, knowledge, technologies and innovations are generated and disseminated for a more efficient, productive, sustainable and profitable rice sector in this part of the world.
“This is a great opportunity for Panama, as well as for producers, technicians and researchers from the entire region of Latin America and the Caribbean, to meet to update knowledge about rice research and research to combat the damage it causes. the fungus pyricularia in crops,” said the executive director of FLAR.
The Conference and Congress will be world class due to the level of exhibitors they will have. In addition to FLAR, the organizers of this Conference are the Bioversity & CIAT Alliance and the Panamanian Rice Foundation (Funparroz), which brings together in Panama the companies Conagro Semillas (Grupo Agrosilos), SECOSA (Grupo Calesa) and the Federation of Rice and Grains of Panama (FEDAGPA). Additionally, through FUNPARROZ, the IDIAP (Institute of Agricultural Innovation of Panama) and the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences of the University of Panama participate.
VALUE WORK
Graterol explained that Panama is one of the countries with the highest per capita consumption of rice in Latin America, approximately 70 kilos per year per person, and that it is an example of how it is investing in technological development in this productive sector.
From this perspective, there is an opportunity for Panama and the region, not only for self-sufficiency in rice production, with varieties with greater potential, but also to increase the available volume of food through better agronomic practices.
For Graterol, the issue is also relevant at a time when the gradual tariff reduction for the importation of rice from the United States to Panama is in process, through the Free Trade Agreement with that country, which makes it necessary for there to be better competitiveness of local production, with quality and price accessible to consumers.
He explained that most of this production in Panama is carried out dry land, that is, depending on rainwater, a system in which it has also been shown that, with the technical support of FLAR, it is possible to increase productivity, as well as in the irrigation system. The FLAR agronomy program, working with Panamanian rice producers, has demonstrated average increases in yield of between 20% and 30% in commercial fields, with a cost reduction between 10% and 20%, using certified seeds, practices sustainable soil adaptation, precise management of fertilization, weed management and monitoring of pests and diseases, as well as rational water management.
PYRICULARIA CONFERENCE
Pyricularia is one of the most important diseases in rice cultivation, due to its aggressiveness and evolutionary capacity, which makes it necessary for the plant to have defense mechanisms.
María Fernanda Alvarez, leader of the Rice Program of the Bioversity & CIAT Alliance, explained that the conference has the objective of updating strategies to generate resistance to the pathogen, as well as working to generate lines and varieties resistant to the disease.
He highlighted the importance of bringing together people with the greatest experience in the management of pathogens from universities and research centers around the world in these conferences, in order to exchange knowledge. He also highlighted the interest he has in the participation of students who need this knowledge to later help strengthen the region in this type of work and studies, and that the decisions made are more informed and scientific.
“One of the mandates of the Bioversity & CIAT Alliance is to work for food security. (…) To the extent that there is development from a scientific and methodological point of view, and also agronomic, of how rice cultivation is being worked, we are going to be much closer to that goal of food security,” stated the expert. . She added that she considered it key that there be stability in yield, for which it is essential to generate a great dialogue around pyricularia in rice cultivation. Additionally, international specialists in wheat pyricularia research will participate, a crop that is also affected by this fungus.
Alvarez underlined the purpose of the conference to disseminate research and development from all points of view that are related to pyricularia, in addition to generating cooperation networks to strengthen this research.
FLAR urges transformation to achieve self-sufficiency in rice production in Panama
Source : https://www.anpanama.com/FLAR-insta-a-transformacion-para-alcanzar-autoabastecimiento-en-produccion-de-arroz-en-Panama-16055.note.aspx
(Panama City-ANPanamá) Global food vulnerability, exacerbated by the impact of climate change and other factors that affect supply chains, is presented as an opportunity to promote a technological transformation in Panama, said Eduardo Graterol, executive director of the Fund Latin American Irrigated Rice (FLAR), highlighting the possibility of achieving self-sufficiency in rice production in the country.
Graterol, representative of the organization based in Cali, Colombia, highlighted the potential of this initiative in a disparate context in Latin America, where some countries are self-sufficient in rice production, while others, such as Panama, face significant challenges.
Graterol, representative of the organization based in Cali, Colombia, highlighted the potential of this initiative in a disparate context in Latin America, where some countries are self-sufficient in rice production, while others, such as Panama, face significant challenges.
The expert pointed out that, in addition to climate change, factors such as agricultural policies and disruptions in logistics chains also affect the current situation.
From the perspective of the executive director of FLAR, the existing vulnerability makes the search for food self-sufficiency even more crucial, especially in basic foods such as rice.
Graterol shared his vision during his participation on January 26 in the training sessions of the National Bank of Panama, together with Luciano Carmona, leader of the FLAR agronomy program. During the event, a pilot project to transform rice production in Panama was presented, with the aim of increasing production with fewer inputs and optimizing the use of resources, including water.
“This proposal that we present to the country is fundamental, especially considering the importance of rice in the Panamanian diet. The National Bank gives us the opportunity to publicize this project and manage the resources necessary for its implementation,” Graterol highlighted.
The initiative seeks not only to face current challenges, but also to strengthen the resilience of Panamanian agriculture against future climate and economic impacts.
FLAR seeks to achieve self-sufficiency in rice production in Panama
Source: https://panoramaeconomicopma.com/locales/flar-busca-alcanzar-autoabastecimiento-en-produccion-de-arroz-en-panama/
For experts, the country has the potential to increase rice yields in the short and medium term, by 20%, 30%, and more in the long term, or by 50% or more. Furthermore, they consider that by making improvements in the cultivation process, from the adaptation of the soil to all agronomic management, to harvest, it is possible to obtain yields above 120, even 130 quintals in dry land in the country, and which are currently low.
In this sense, global food vulnerability due to the impact of climate change, which affects the prices of agricultural products, along with other factors that affect supply chains, is an opportunity for a technological transformation that allows Panama to achieve self-sufficiency. in rice production, stressed today agronomist Eduardo Graterol, executive director of the Latin American Irrigated Rice Fund (FLAR).
According to Graterol, a representative of the organization based in Cali (Colombia), an entity that generates and disseminates knowledge to improve productivity in the field, highlighted the potential in the disparate scenario in Latin America due to the existence of self-sufficient countries in the supply of cereal to its population, while others do not, including Panama.
“In Panama last year and even this year, the effect of high temperatures has been evident, not only in agriculture; but in people’s lives, and that is resulting in lower agricultural and livestock production, and has also implied impacts on the quality of products and costs, because under these conditions the cost of food increases due to the reduction of areas and scarcity of products,” explained the expert when graphing the moment.
Among the factors that affect supply chains, he also mentioned agricultural policies, not only of the country, but of other countries that supply food, and which ultimately end up affecting buyers, and, in addition to specific effects, such as the climate crisis, the crisis of war, or abnormalities in logistics chains.
From the perspective of the executive director of FLAR, there is a vulnerability that makes the country’s self-sufficiency more essential, even more so, in a fundamental food for the population such as rice.
The expert highlighted his perspective after the participation he had on January 26, together with engineer Luciano Carmona, leader of the FLAR agronomy program, at the beginning of the training sessions of the National Bank of Panama, on a farm in the district Panamanian from La Pintada, in the province of Coclé, with the underlying theme: “Climate Change, Mitigation in Agriculture.”
The specialists presented to producers in the area, in the northwest of the country, to other people related to agriculture, as well as to representatives of the board of directors of the National Bank of Panama, the pilot project to transform rice production in Panama, with You aim to produce more rice with fewer inputs, and to make better use of resources, including water.
“It is a proposal that we are making to the country, where rice is a fundamental food, and the National Bank gives us the opportunity to make the proposal known and to manage the necessary resources to be able to implement the project in this country,” Graterol highlighted. about this participation.
POTENTIAL
The executive director of FLAR stated that Panama has the potential to increase rice yields in the short and medium term, by 20%, 30%, and more in the long term, or by 50% or more.
He pointed out that dryland yields in the country are low, even compared to other countries in the region, so he is perhaps talking about 80, 90 quintals per hectare, and for some producers a little over 100 quintals per hectare.
Graterol highlighted that they have found that by making improvements in the cultivation process, from the adequacy of the soil to all agronomic management and harvest, yields above 120, including 130 quintals in dry land, can be obtained.
He indicated that in irrigation, which is a smaller area in the country, yields could even reach 200 quintals per hectare, but that we could think of irrigation averages of about 150, 160 quintals.
PANAMA, WORLD STAGE
Graterol recalled in the midst of the efforts to improve agricultural productivity in the region the importance of holding in Panama between June 10 and 14 of this year the XIV International Rice Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean and the IX International Conference on Pyricularia in Rice and Wheat, and which was recognized as two of the scientific events of greatest scope and relevance, not only in Latin America, but in the world.
He highlighted that the contests will bring together scientists, producers, economists, people who work precisely on environmental issues, from Latin America and around the world.
The holding of the meetings was announced in Panama on October 3, and by the organization of these events, by Graterol and biologist Nelly Florez, senior alliances and communications officer of the Bioversity & CIAT Alliance.
For the expert, this will be an opportunity for Panama to show itself to the whole world, to visit Panamanian rice industries and fields, as well as to expand the contact networks of Panamanians who work in rice with people who are developing new technologies and knowledge that can help the country increase its productivity.
He also sees these events as an opportunity to better adapt to climate change, in addition to strengthening the country’s capabilities.
Graterol announced that they already have more or less 60%, 70% of speakers confirmed for the Conference, and highlighted that they will have participants from all regions of the world and scientists with extensive experience in the rice world, as well as young people.
He invited young Panamanians who are beginning their professional careers linked to agriculture to get involved in participating in these great competitions.
Graterol also invited people to search the Conference website and the FLAR social networks, so that they can take advantage of the preferential rates they are giving for students, or for other people who register early.
He urged researchers and technicians to send their work, achievements and results, to share them with the scientific community.
He highlighted that within the framework of the Conference they will have a technical commercial exhibition so that Panamanian companies, not only linked to rice but also to agriculture in general, can exhibit their products and interact with potential clients.
Graterol also extended the invitation to companies that have products and services linked to agriculture, and even others related, so that they are encouraged and can accompany them through the technical commercial exhibitions of the events.
Technological transformation, the bet to increase rice yield in Panama
Through a FLAR pilot project, the country could achieve self-sufficiency in one of the most important items on the Panamanian table. For Eduardo Graterol, executive director of the Latin American Irrigated Rice Fund (FLAR), Panama has the potential to increase rice yields in the short, medium term, by 20%, 30%, and more in the long term, or by 50%. % or more.
He pointed out that dryland yields in the country are low, even compared to other countries in the region, so he is perhaps talking about 80, 90 quintals per hectare, and for some producers a little over 100 quintals per hectare.
Graterol resaltó que si el país realiza mejoras en el proceso de cultivo, desde la adecuación de los suelos hasta todo el manejo agronómico y cosecha se puede obtener rendimientos por encima de los 120, inclusive 130 quintales en secano. Mientras que en riego, los rendimientos podrían alcanzar incluso los 200 quintales por hectárea, con un promedio de unos 150, 160 quintales.
The expert maintains that with “global food vulnerability, due to the impact of climate change, – which affects the prices of agricultural products along with other factors that affect supply chains -, technological transformation can be an opportunity that allows “Panama achieve self-sufficiency in rice production.”
“In Panama last year and even this year the effect of high temperatures has been evident, not only in agriculture but in people’s lives, and this is resulting in lower agricultural and livestock production, and has also “implied effects on the quality of the products and the costs, because under these conditions the cost of food increases due to the reduction of areas and the scarcity of products,” explained Graterol, during a training session of the National Bank of Panama, with the underlying theme: “Climate Change, Mitigation in Agriculture
Among the factors that affect supply chains, the specialist also mentioned agricultural policies, not only of the country, but of other countries that supply food, and which ultimately end up affecting buyers, and, in addition to specific effects, such as climate crisis, the crisis of war, or abnormalities in logistics chains.
During the training, the specialist presented the pilot project to transform rice production in Panama, with a view to producing more rice with fewer inputs, and to make better use of resources, including water.
“It is a proposal that we are making to the country, where rice is a fundamental food, and the National Bank gives us the opportunity to make the proposal known and to manage the necessary resources to be able to implement the project in this country,” he said.
For the 2023-2024 agricultural year, Panama is scheduled to plant 92,757 hectares, with the participation of 1,680 producers, with a harvest projection of 437,106 metric tons, that is, 9,616,332 quintals, with an average yield of 104 quintals per hectare.
