Cobre Panama committed to the Agricultural Sector

Mining company participated in the Agricultural and Livestock Forum organized by CoNEP

Herrera, July 6, 2023 – Cobre Panama, aware of the importance of promoting and contributing to the sustainable development of the country, participated in the Agricultural Forum “How do we transform the sector?”, organized by the National Council of Private Enterprise (CoNEP).

Éufrates López, Coordinator of the Socioeconomic Development Program of Cobre Panama’s Community Affairs office, shared with those present the topic “Development of the Associative Business Model in small producers”, which Cobre Panama is carrying out in the communities neighboring the mine area.

López pointed out that this program is based on five pillars that are the foundation of its success: community relations, health and wellness, education and community infrastructure. He also indicated that since 2009, Cobre Panama has been promoting the establishment of home gardens in nearby communities.

As part of this development model, producers receive training, technical advice and financial guidance, which has allowed them to become entrepreneurs and group together, creating the first organization of agricultural producers in the communities of Donoso and La Pintada (DONLAP), as well as the first Association of Coffee Producers of La Ceiba.

The Asociación de Productores de Donoso y La Pintada, made up of 34 producers, are Cobre Panamá’s main suppliers of fruits and vegetables for feeding the more than 7,300 mine workers. They also sell Nestlé 300 kilos of coriander and 300 kilos of chili peppers per month, among other products grown in these communities, and have achieved more than US$5 million in sales since their creation.

For its part, La Ceiba Association, made up of 10 members, produces, processes and markets its coffee, which is 100% artisanal, and has its own agro-industrial processing plant that was recently certified by the National Agroindustries Directorate of MIDA for the production of Artisanal Coffee.

“For Cobre Panama it will always be important to promote the agricultural sector because it is the main activity in which our neighbors are engaged. So far these groups have had a successful experience, they have learned to manage a company and to be competitive in a market that demands quality,” concluded López.

This is the first major agricultural forum organized by CoNEP and, according to Alfredo Du Bois, “it is an opportunity to provide a space to present new ways to increase the productivity and competitiveness of the agricultural sector.

The Forum was attended by authorities, representatives of regional organizations, sector support entities, private enterprise and producers in the area.