ANALMO proposed the need to import 1.5 million quintals of rice to ensure the national supply and meet the required silo rest periods for the industry. The industrial sector formally proposed importing 1.5 million quintals of paddy rice, equivalent to two months of consumption, to establish one month of security reserve and an additional month for the technical silo rest process. Arguments for market stability Although the official inventory of the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA) indicates that current stocks will last until October 2026, ANALMO recommended prioritizing market stability. It will be up to the government bodies to make the final decision on whether or not to implement these preventive measures for the supply of the main item in the local diet. ANALMO warns of rice supply risks for the end of 2026. The guild highlighted a change in stance by some producer associations, which, after previously suggesting smaller imports, opted for a zero-import position in this session. Finally, the result of this meeting will be elevated as a technical recommendation to the authorities of the National Government. According to a board member, the proposal to maintain one month of national security and one of technical rest avoids speculation that harms the producer and allows the country to be prepared for unforeseen external events, citing previous experiences with pandemics or climate crises. Concern over the Committee's decision The industry expressed its concern over the voting results in the extraordinary meeting. The organization points out that the year-end harvest faces critical risks, such as the elimination of compensations, the effects of climate change, warnings about the El Niño phenomenon, and the limited availability of financing for producers. The vice president of ANALMO, Raúl Palacios, explained in the third person that the guild's position seeks to guarantee uninterrupted access to the grain for the Panamanian consumer. (12/Feb/2026 – web – Panama24Horas.com.pa) Panama City, Panama. – The National Association of Rice Millers (ANALMO) reaffirmed its institutional stance focused on safeguarding the country's food security during the Extraordinary Meeting of the Rice Agro-Food Chain Committee. Of the 15 guilds represented, only two voted in favor of ANALMO's proposal, while three abstentions and nine votes against were recorded.
