Artisanal panela production in Tinajas, Dolega – Chiriquí: case study

Abstract

The aim of this work is to illustrate the case of the artisan production of panela in Tinajas, Dolega district, Chiriquí province, Panama. For this, the owner of a 3 hectares plantation cultivated with sugar cane was interviewed; who provided details on socioeconomic and technical-environmental aspects. Additionally, four field trips were carried out on the site, from March 2022 to August 2023. According to the results, the producer has 30 years of experience developing this economic activity, which serves as a complementary income for the four people who live in the home, who also support part-time in the activity. He obtains an average yield of 1,500 panela units per month, which he sells at a unit price of USD 0.20 (USD 300.00 in total per month); he also has other crops such as beans, cassava, plantain, coconut palm, to name a few. Among the main problems recently faced are the strong breeze and little rainfall during the dry season, the competition from cheaper imported panela and the presence of pests; the three most important being Phyllophaga sp., Diatraea tabernella (Dyar, 1911) and Saccharicoccus sacchari (Cockerell, 1895). As management alternatives, the producer applies agricultural lime twice a year, in addition to chemical control and the use of organic amendments. In conclusion, the artisanal production of panela in Tinajas represents a development opportunity, but it is necessary to improve management and marketing alternatives.