President José Raúl Mulino inaugurated the Remigio Rojas Irrigation and Post-Harvest System. This project, with an investment of B/.6,568,840.10, strengthens agricultural production and food security in the province of Chiriquí.
The president emphasized that this system not only adds cultivable hectares but also allows expanding the current production frontier, utilizing more months of the year, and increasing crop yields. The project included the recovery of the intake structure on the Chico River, the rehabilitation of the associated dam, and improvements to the entire water capture infrastructure.
Minister of Public Works José Luis Andrade highlighted that the true value of this work is reflected in greater agricultural productivity, more employment, better conditions for agro-exportation, and a strengthened agricultural sector that continues to contribute to the economic growth of Chiriquí and Panama.
Minister Roberto Linares stated the effects of the new system: "We went from 600 to 3,500 hectares under irrigation." A rice producer, Alexander Araúz, expressed gratitude to the president, noting that he is the first head of state in decades to make this initiative a reality for the Chiriquí agriculture sector.
The mayor of Alanje presented the president with a plaque of recognition for his valuable contribution. Before unveiling a commemorative plaque, the president sent a message to the beneficiary producers: "We must move from thinking about the countryside to being part of an agribusiness chain, as we have the logistics and, above all, the immense quality of the products to conquer markets."
The president concluded his agenda in Alanje by visiting the post-harvest center, touring the cold rooms and packaging lines to verify the quality of the work. With this delivery, the district of Alanje and its neighboring communities strengthen their production capacity, advance towards greater food security, and reinforce the economic development of Chiriquí, one of Panama's most important agro-exporting provinces.
