Chicken Farmer Wants Stable Electrical Service
Carlos Salcedo, a poultry farmer of Finca Tara said increases in the cost of electricity will affect producers. He said the increase could be up to 25 percent in direct costs of production. "Electricity is fundamental to the process of raising chickens," he added. He said in the last 10 years, farms have been modernized very significantly in order to reach levels of competitiveness through the use of control systems that makes them totally dependent on energy. He added that the supplies they use also cost more due to the increases in the cost of power.
"We need to reliable energy so that our product (chicken) can reach market. We have been asking Union Fenosa to provide reliable energy, but that's not happening," he said. Salcedo said during the month of July 9,067 chickens died because of power outages. He said in recent years there have been more than 100 energy service interruptions, hurting their farm and all citizens. "Union Fenosa has proven to be inefficient because they do not guarantee a good and steady supply of quality power to the residents," he said.
According to the owner of the Villa Tara, when this situation occurs the company avoids taking any responsibility. Salcedo said in this situation they are proposing to create a National Front for the Recovery of Energy Sovereignty. "I ask all Panamanians come together and we contact to create this front and keep this company for continuing to hurt us," he said. (Panama America)
Editor's Comment: Scientists have recently discovered a new and magical invention which can be used to avoid these types of situations. It's called a "generator" and you use it to keep the lights on when the power line goes dead. That would have kept those 9,000 chickens alive - until they were slaughtered. Did anyone miss the irony there? And can do it again, slower this time, if necessary...
