Panamanian rice producers have formally rejected calls to import the staple grain, warning that such a move would devastate local agriculture. They made their stance clear during an extraordinary meeting of the Rice Agro-Food Chain Committee on Tuesday, February 10, 2026. Farmers argue the country has sufficient domestic supply and allege that low prices and unpaid government debts are creating a crisis.
Officials from the Ministry of Agricultural Development (Panama) confirmed a solid national inventory exists. The meeting, marked by significant tension, focused on the most sensitive item in the Panamanian basic food basket.
Sufficient National Supply Reported
Abel Andrés Aparicio, Director of Agriculture at the Ministry of Agricultural Development, acknowledged a slight reduction in planted area. He stated the decision to import does not rest with the government alone. It requires consensus from the entire chain, including industrial millers and farmers.
“According to the inventory we developed… there is sufficient rice,” Aparicio said. [Translated from Spanish]
Omar Spiegel, a representative for the producers, was more forceful. He asserted the country is actually oversupplied. Last year’s planting covered over 93,000 hectares with a production exceeding 6 million quintals. Spiegel insisted current stocks guarantee supply until October 25, 2026. The harvest beginning in July, he explained, creates a safe overlap with existing inventories.
Farmers Cite Low Prices and Unpaid Debts
Producer concerns extend beyond supply volumes to the economics of farming. Orestes Combe, president of the Rice Producers Association of Eastern Panama and Darién, described a challenging landscape. Farmers are receiving payments below their production costs, he said, calling producers the weakest link in the chain.
“We are the weakest link… the mills know at what price to sell, the supermarkets do too, but we cannot get a fair price because we are told it is monopolistic practice,” Combe stated. [Translated from Spanish]
Franklin Barría, a producer from the Los Santos Province and Herrera region, highlighted a critical cash flow issue. He claimed the industry and the state owe farmers more than $2 million for harvests from previous years. Barría argued producers need that capital to continue operating and planting for future seasons.
Allegations of Smuggling and Market Pressure
A startling allegation of possible rice smuggling entered the discussion. Omar Spiegel pointed to an unexplained surplus in official figures that does not match national consumption patterns. This discrepancy suggests the irregular entry of grain into the country, a topic raised during the chain committee meeting.
Through a statement dated February 9, 2026, producers expressed their frontal rejection of alleged pressure from industrial millers to expand imports. They argue imports would distort the market to artificially depress prices paid to family farmers. Spiegel clarified that while President José Raúl Mulino has supported agriculture, this backing should not be confused with permission to import rice for consumption.
“No door remains open for any import at this time… the country is fully supplied by national production,” Spiegel concluded. [Translated from Spanish]
The National Association of Rice Millers (Analmo) reacted to the farmers’ claims. In a statement, the group said it proposed importing a two-month supply of grain. One month would be for food security, Analmo explained, and the other to allow for a rest period in storage silos. The millers’ proposal involves 1.5 million quintals of rough rice, which they argue is necessary to guarantee quality and meet consumer standards.
The dispute places the government in a difficult position. It must balance food security, consumer prices, and the survival of a critical domestic agricultural sector. With farmers claiming adequate supply until late 2026 and millers pushing for imports, officials face a complex mediation task. The outcome will significantly impact Panama’s food sovereignty and rural economy.