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Panama Agriculture and Fishing Overview
Agriculture and fishing
Agriculture and fisheries are increasingly
contributing to the country's gross domestic product
(GDP). Nevertheless, the sector still employs about
every six working panamans and accounts for most of the
export of goods.
- CountryAAH:
Comprehensive import regulations of Panama. Covers import prohibitions and special documentation requirements for a list of prohibited items.
Many people are engaged in agriculture for housing
needs. Nevertheless, basic foods such as corn, rice and
beans must be imported as domestic production is not
enough.
Major export products in agriculture are bananas,
melons, pineapples and sugar. The bananas stood in the
1990s alone for almost half of export earnings but have
lost significance. Coffee exports have become important
and are based on coffee beans that hold one of the
highest qualities in the world.
Fishing, especially on the Pacific coast, has
increased in importance and revenues more than doubled
during the 1990s. Since then, income has varied greatly.
Salmon, shrimp and tuna in both fresh and frozen form
are important export goods. For Panama defense and
foreign policy, please check
themotorcyclers.

FACTS - AGRICULTURE
Agriculture's share of GDP
2.2 percent (2018)
Percentage of land used for agriculture
30.4 percent (2016)
2015
December
Detention order against ex-president Martinelli
The Supreme Court issues an arrest warrant against former President Ricardo
Martinelli after failing to obey an order to stand for questioning. Martinelli
is still abroad (see January 2015).
September
Reduced murder rate
A report shows that the murder rate in the country has fallen by just over 21
percent during the first nine months of the year. In Colón, the most violent
city, the number of murders has more than halved. A program aimed at
rehabilitating gang members by receiving vocational training is considered to be
behind the reduction. The murder rate decreased from 12 per 100,000 inhabitants
in January – September 2014 to 9.3 per 100,000 during the same period in 2015.
Further investigation against former president Martinelli
The Supreme Court opens a fourth investigation against Martinelli, and the
second one concerning corruption. This time it applies to the purchase of food
within the framework of a social support program. Martinelli, who is still in
the United States (see January 2015), is also being
investigated for ordering the security service to conduct illegal telephone
interception against over 150 people, including many PRD politicians and
business representatives. Martinelli is also charged with 350 illegal pardons
towards the end of his presidential term. The Parlacén has established that
Martinelli does not have prosecution immunity.
June
Extensive demonstrations against dam construction
Protesters block off the Pan-American highway in protest of the Barro Blanco
dam in Chiriquí (see also February 2015). The protest then
begins talks that have been held with the UN as a mediator broken down between
the government, the building consortium and the NGO.
HD judges are allowed to go
Víctor Benavides, a judge in the Supreme Court, is forced to resign because
of suspicions of sexual offenses against minors and for illegally appropriating
funds. His representative resigned in 2014, also suspected of corruption.
Ex-president is arrested
An arrest warrant is issued for former Vice President Felipe Virzi, who is
charged with corruption and money laundering in the context of the investigation
against the previous government. Virzi is accused of receiving $ 10 million in
bribes from a company that was awarded a contract for an irrigation system that
was never built, however. Several of the company's executives have just been
arrested while trying to leave the country. Virzi was Vice President from 1994
to 1999 but must have had close contacts with Martinelli's government.
March
Ex-chief judge is sentenced to prison
Former Chief Judge Alejandro Moncada Luna (see October 2014)
pleads guilty to falsifying a document and is sentenced to five years in prison.
He will be served the sentence in house arrest. Moncada will also return two
apartments worth a total of $ 1.7 million, which he has acquired since he took
office as judge in 2010. At the time of his admission, he stated that he had no
assets other than a gold watch and a van. Moncada was appointed by former
President Martinelli.
February
Protests stop environmentally hazardous construction
After months of protests against the planned hydroelectric dam Barro Blanco
in Chiriquí, the government temporarily halted construction, as the companies
concerned failed to carry out the required environmental impact assessments. The
indigenous people of Ngobe (Guaymí) claim that the dam will damage the Tabasara
River and destroy large areas of cultivation.
January
Ex-president is being investigated for corruption
The Supreme Court decides on a corruption investigation against former
President Ricardo Martinelli. He is accused of pushing up the amounts in
multi-million procurement during his time as president in 2009–2014. A former
government official claims he was pressured to sign "abnormal" contracts.
Martinelli, who says he is subject to a political witch hunt by his successor,
leaves the country when it becomes clear that the court is acting to lift the
prosecution immunity he has as a member of the Central American Parliament,
Parlacén.
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