Crops of onion, chili, corn, and tomato in the Las Margaritas area, in El Caño, district of Natá, province of Coclé, are at risk of being lost due to the drought already recorded in that region. In this agricultural zone of the country, 25 small producers depend on the El Caño River, whose level has dropped drastically, and on the Boca Toma irrigation system. Currently, the corn, onion, chili, and tomato crops are in their vegetative stage; for this reason, they need a continuous water supply.
Ramón Ramos, an onion and other crop producer in Las Margaritas, describes the situation as "quite worrying" and warns of a possible crisis. Ramos has called on the authorities of the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA) to distribute water equitably among all producers who depend on this irrigation system.
The situation in the El Caño River is alarming. Very little water remains. Francisco Filóz also fears the loss of his crops. The little water that is left only allows watering a part of the planted land, and "no product can survive without water." Only puddles are left in this river.
