BRIEFS. agriculture

Sea salt harvest kicks off in azuero region

Some 130 workers dedicated to collecting salt from coastal areas on the Azuero peninsula kicked off the annual harvest on Saturday and hope the season will yield about 280,000 quintals (1 quintal=100 pounds).

Representatives of the Sal Santeños and Reyes Espino salt cooperatives and directors of the National Federation of Salt Cooperatives of Panama-Fencospa reported that each worker is expected to meet a quota of 15 quintals per turn during the harvest, which will end on May 2, 2009.

Modesto Delgado, manager of Fencospa, said that if the quotas are met, the salt collectors should reach 280,000 quintals or more, depending on weather and other climatic factors. However, Delgado indicated that the cooperatives have enough in storage to to supply the country’s demand until the end of May next year.

Delgado explained that the installation of ground piping has improved the efficacy of the cooperatives’ collection rates.

Salt sales have held steady this year at about 26,000 quintals per month, he added.