Making It Easy To Start a Tree Farm In Panama



Posted: Thursday, May 11, 2006

by
Focus Publications (Int.), S.A.

Tree farm in Panama - good investmentTwelve years ago Mr. Jorge Fuentes of Penonome province realized that the increasing number of people investing in re-forestation needed help to set up their farms. So he formed a company to develop a tree nursery, called it Geoforestal S.A. and began experimenting with large-scale production of seedlings and saplings.



The business was an almost immediate success, growth has been constant and the nursery, at Santa Maria de la Pintada in the Province of Cocle, now covers 15 hectareas. In the first three months of this year, the company has sold 886,000 seedlings.



But it's not just selling trees. Geoforestal’s S.A. offer to land owners and companies dedicated to selling shares in re-forestation projects is to make it easy to start their plantations. The company analyses the soil, prepares the land, plants the trees at the recommended density of 1,111 trees per hectarea and overseas their care, with guarantee, for one year. This costs $1,500 per hectarea.



The seeds for most of the trees come from Honduras. They are placed in water for eight days before planting in seed plots of river sand until they germinate. The seedlings are then planted in small containers in a special organic mixture, which includes rice husks, chicken manure, bagasse and charcoal. The containers feature mesh bottoms but are suspended in the air so that the roots never touch the soil. In about three months they are big enough to plant in the ground.



In one year from planting they grow to from two to three meters depending on the species and the fertility of the sail ft. In four to six years they will be tall enough to thin out so that the remaining trees have a healthy journey to maturity.



The types of lumber trees on offer are: Cedar (Cedro Amargo and Cedro Espino), African Mahogany, Amarillo Amazonico, Teak, Caribbean Pine, Mountain Almond (Almendro de Montaña) Poinciana (Acacia Magniums) and Eucalyptus.



Geoforestal S.A. also offers fruit trees such as Paw Paw (Papaya), Breadfruit, Soursop (Guanabano) and citrus, and many ornamental bushes and flowers.



Contact: Geoforestal S.A. (507)983-0219.


AUTHOR:
Kenneth J. Jones
- General Manager -
Focus Publications (Int.), S.A.
Panama, R.P.
http://www.thevisitorpanama.com/

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