In the zone of Chiriquí (Panama), the traditional rice plantations back down, whereas the farming of pineapple is extending quickly, to a rate of 50%.

In 2006, 31,000 hectares of rice were cultivated in Chiriquí. Later due to the high production costs of the cereal, the agriculturists only seed on safe lands. The rice dealers met with the governor of the provincial early this month to urge that many will have to leave the farming of the cereal if governmental no not implanted measures to lower rice production costs