Food and Agriculture in Panama Essays -- Panama Farming Agricultural E

Food and Agriculture in skimmer Agriculture is big art in sailor. Not only does it ac debate for much of the countrys exports (over 50%), and subsistence farming still employs legion(predicate) Panamanians who only grow enough solid food to feed their families (nationalencyclopedia.com). The main crop in Panama is bananas by a large margin, and is also one of the countries largest exports. Besides bananas, the other main exports atomic number 18 sugar and coffee beans, while the largest domestic crops atomic number 18 corn, rice, cocoanuts, tobacco and the alien root vegetable yucca (Bennett 78). In spite of the fact that agriculture employs a large portion of the population and uses approximately half of the land, agriculture in Panama is in trouble. Panamas tropical maritime clime poses some restrictions to the growth of crops, but the troubling issue at softwood is the erosion of soils. As Panamas population grows rapidly and the rainforest is cleared, o veruse of soils and improper agricultural methods are threatening the growth of crops and wearing Panamanian soils. As much of Panamas political report and current economy is tied to agriculture, this is an issue that will raise many questions for the future of Panama. Bananas have a long history in Panama. Bananas are grown best in humid lowland regions, and in Panama, this actor on the Atlantic side of the country (Bennett 70). Production does, however, extend to the peaceable side of Panama with successful irrigation methods (Bennett 71). United Fruit, an American company, moved into Panama in 1899, and owned as much as 70% of the Panamanian banana industry up until the 1970s (country-studies.com). As bananas can count for as much as 33% of Panamas centre exports, very li... ...e and thus crop yields are declining (Croat 465). To avoid an agricultural crisis, sustainable agricultural practices must be developed and implemented in Panama. workings Cited Ben net, H. (1926). Agriculture in Central America. Annals of the Association of American Geographers, Vol. 16, No.2. pp. 63-84.http//www.country-studies.com/. Agriculture. Retrieved 11/27/07 from www.country-studies.com/panama/agriculture.html. Croat, T. (1972). The Role of Overpopulation and Agricultural Methods in the Destruction of tropic Ecosystems. Bioscience, Vol.22, No. 8. pp. 465-467.http//www.frommers.com/. Food and Drink. Retrieved 11/27/07 from www.frommers.com/destination/panama/3285020880.html. www.nationsencyclopedia.com . Panama Agriculture. Retrieved 11/27/07 from www.nationsencyclopedia.com/economies/Americas/Panama-AGRICULTURE.html.