---
title: "Watermelon and Melon Exports Gain Ground as Rural Jobs Expand in Panama"
date: 2026-04-09
author: ""
url: https://panamadaily.news/panama-watermelon-melon-rural-employment/
categories:
  - "Business"
  - "Economy"
tags:
  - "Azuero Peninsula"
  - "GANTRAP"
  - "melon exports"
  - "Panama agro-exports"
  - "rural employment"
  - "watermelon production"
---

# Watermelon and Melon Exports Gain Ground as Rural Jobs Expand in Panama

## What Happened

Watermelon and melon exporters are playing a growing role in rural employment and local economic activity in Panama’s inland communities. The sector’s impact was highlighted during a meeting in Herrera between officials from the Ministry of Economy and Finance and members of the Panama Non-Traditional Agro-exporters Group, known as GANTRAP.

Rodolfo Sabonge, director of National Planning at the ministry, underscored the importance of agro-exports for job creation and for helping reduce migration from the countryside to the city. The discussion centered on how the production and export of melons and watermelons have become a source of economic support for communities outside the capital.

## Why the Sector Matters

The meeting placed special focus on the Azuero Peninsula, where agricultural activity remains an important part of the local economy. Participants agreed on the need for technical data to better measure the sector’s contribution and to guide future public policy. That kind of evidence is often key to determining how government support, investment incentives and export strategies can strengthen rural development.

GANTRAP said Productive Development Certificates, created under Law No. 105 of 2013, remain an important tool for encouraging reinvestment, sustainability and expansion. The group argued that such incentives help exporters stay competitive in international markets while supporting continued growth at home.

## Technology and Labor in the Field

As part of the agenda, the ministry delegation visited farms where they observed the use of agricultural technology such as fumigation drones and ozone disinfection systems. The visit also highlighted the role of Panamanian workers across the production chain, from farm operations to export preparation.

Representatives Ricardo García and Carlos Campo stressed the importance of preserving mechanisms that encourage investment and improve access to foreign markets. Their remarks reflected a broader push by the sector to expand production while keeping more value in rural areas.

## Broader Economic Impact

Non-traditional agro-exports have become an important part of Panama’s agricultural diversification efforts. For inland provinces, crops such as watermelon and melon can help create seasonal and permanent jobs, support transport and logistics services, and strengthen local businesses tied to farming activity.

In a country where economic activity is often concentrated in Panama City and along major corridors, export agriculture can serve as a counterweight by spreading opportunity into provincial communities. The continued growth of the sector may also help reinforce Panama’s position in international agricultural markets while supporting development in rural regions.