PANAMA CITY, Panama – President José Raúl Mulino has directed a rapid government intervention to import certified rice seeds from Colombia, responding to an urgent plea from national producers facing a bacterial crisis. The announcement was made during an Expanded Cabinet Council held in Santiago on Thursday, October 23, 2025, to safeguard Panama’s primary food staple.
The decisive action came immediately after a request from Carlos Araúz, President of the Rice Producers Association, who highlighted the critical situation as one of “notorious urgency.” The local agricultural sector is grappling with significant damage from bacteria affecting the available seed stock, threatening the genetic integrity and yield of the nation’s next rice harvest.
Government Mobilizes to Secure Food Supply
In response to the emergency, President Mulino issued immediate instructions at both diplomatic and institutional levels. The primary objective is to facilitate the swift arrival of certified seeds to ensure the national rice planting cycle can proceed without disruption, thereby securing the domestic supply of the country’s most consumed grain.
Roberto Linares, the Minister of Agricultural Development, provided concrete details on the implementation plan. He announced that two Resolutions to formally authorize the importation of the certified seed are finalized and expected to receive official approval within the coming days. This regulatory step is crucial for expediting the physical logistics of the import process.
We are committed to supporting the sector with the prompt arrival of certified seeds from Colombia. The goal is to sustain the national production of this grain, the most consumed by Panamanians.
The government’s focus on food security and agricultural stability was the central theme of the high-level meeting, underscoring the administration’s proactive approach to potential food supply chain disruptions.
Women-Led Agricultural Initiative Seeks Commercial Support
The Expanded Cabinet Council also featured participation from the Low-Carbon Women Rice Producers Association. The association’s president, Karen González, directly appealed to President Mulino for enhanced commercial support for their specific product.
González’s requests included the establishment of a quality testing laboratory and governmental backing for a law focused on transformation and competitiveness. She emphasized the unique nature of their initiative, which has benefited from technical assistance provided by the Ministry of Agricultural Development.
This is a product produced by women, and we request support for the commercialization of our product, specifically a quality laboratory and backing for the transformation and competitiveness law,
said Karen González [Translated from Spanish].
The inclusion of this group highlights the government’s broader engagement with diverse stakeholders within the national agricultural sector, addressing both immediate crises and long-term development goals.
The rapid response from the Mulino administration signals a prioritized effort to stabilize a key component of Panama’s food security framework and support its agricultural producers against unforeseen biological threats.