The Consumers Association of Costa Rica demanded Agriculture Minister Luis Felipe Arauz to establish the date of the census for bean production, which would be done through an agreement with the National University and using drones.
On May 26th this year, Arauz set the startup of the census for July. The idea was to start the verification of the first bean harvest period 2016-2017 in Brunca Region.
This census is needed to prevent bean smuggling. According to estimates of the National Production Council (CNP), between 14,000 and 27,000 quintals of beans are smuggled each year and according to 2 reports by the Earth University, these beans are counted as national harvest by the Institutional Supply Program (PAI).
Therefore the Consumers Association of Costa Rica filed a complaint against the Ministry of Agriculture and the CNP before the Ombudsman.
Erick Ulate, president of Consumers of Costa Rica, stated:
It is absolutely necessary that the MAG starts the promised census, which we discussed in a meeting with Manager of CNP Edgar Vargas more than 2 months ago. According to data from the Earth University, smuggling bean increases artificially the amount of national harvest, without giving due follow-up to this plant entering our country illegally.