Food Concerns
The Government of Costa
Rica is resorting to the
Central America Economic
Integration Bank for the
funds needed to finance
a program to stimulate
the growing of basic
grains.
This is so because of
the regulations that do
not allow the national
banking system to
provide the required
funds.
Minister of Agriculture
Javier Flores said the
Bank will lend us$60
million for Costa Rican
farmers to grow rice,
beans, and corn, the
three leading grains in
a state program aimed at
countering global
shortages and the high
prices that those goods
are commanding in the
world market.
This is part of the
National Food Program,
which also includes
social relief to the
most vulnerable sectors
and to which some us$86
million have been
allocated.
While in the past Costa
Rica even exported
surpluses of the three
staples, now it depends
mostly on imports, and
the Government aims at
changing that trend. |
