The Del Monte Company might acquire 1,800 hectares that were once used for the production of bananas in the district of Baru. If this deal were closed, the area's economic recovery would be a matter of months.
According to the mayor of the district, Franklin Valdés, Del Monte met with two groups of banana producers (some one thousand holders of title deeds), and offered to pay them $7,500 per hectare and to employ one member per family. "On Friday, the company met with two groups and offered to buy their land and revitalize the area economically," he said.
The overall operation would reach $ 13.5 million if the company negotiates with the former employees of the Cooperative of Multiple Services (Coosemupar), which have individual title deeds.
It’s worth noting that these lands were handed to the workers by the State in 2012, when the union was given a total of 2,400 hectares: 2,000 hectares for its members and 400 to split between former employees and management.
"This deal would be of great benefit for the residents and for the land owners. It would benefit everyone," said Gaspar Villarreal, a former worker of the Chiquita Fruit Company.
Meanwhile, Camilo Brenes, president of the Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Chiriqui (Camchi), stressed that the economic impact would be very important due to the banana industry’s employability. "The employability of the banana industry is very high, so it would be very favourable for the region," he said.
Brenes said the possible exploitation of the agricultural area would give greater strength to the agro-export sector and would be compatible with the idea of installing the multimodal Pacific and Atlantic ports.
Meanwhile, Felipe Ariel Rodriguez, a member of the Panamanian Association of Business Executives (APEDA), said that, "it would be fantastic if a company like this starts production and, hopefully, with added industrial value so as to strengthen exports."
No date was given regarding when the negotiations would be over.
Source: laestrella.com.pa