The possibilities of improving productivity in coconut plantations in Panama have begun to materialize with the technical support of Cuba for the integral management of the crop, Panamanian agricultural authorities said today.

The South-South cooperation model between the two countries is aimed at strengthening the Coconut Development Program on the Costa Rican coast, about 80 kilometers north of the Panamanian capital, and includes the control of pests and diseases such as mites, fungi, nematodes, caterpillars and squirrel attacks.

Panama assistance is provided by technicians from the Superior Organization of Business Management (OSDE Agrícola) and the National Center of Agricultural and Livestock (CENSA) of Cuba.

In Panama, thousands of families depend on coconut production, a tropical fruit obtained from the coconut tree (Cocos nucifera), the most cultivated palm tree in the world.

It is estimated that in the province of Colón, there are 156,785 coconut trees, of which 112,000 are of productive age. Coconut is consumed for its refreshing water, but also has multiple industrial applications.

In the Caribbean Indian region of Kuna Yala, also known as Guna Yala, in the northeast of the country, coconut production is vital for the economy and food of coastal and island populations.

For decades, indigenous Panamanians used the coconut for barter with communities bordering Colombia.