Currently there is a shortage of national onions, as the production of this item is not big enough to supply the local market.
Alvaro Caballero, a marketer, said a quintal of domestic onions cost 60 $ and that it didn't bring 50 pounds. Meanwhile, a quintal of imported onions costs between 62 and 64 $, forcing traders to sell their products above the control price.
This situation could worsen because onion producers have indicated that there would be a deficit of 21,000 quintal in the month of July in Panama.
Augusto Jimenez, an onion producer, said this situation was due to a lack of support for domestic producers by the competent authorities.
He also said that Panama had become unable to supply local consumption since 2008 and that it depended on imports.
Source: panamaamerica.com.pa