Protests in Panama cause food, and fuel shortages. The health ministry reported that two protestors who were obstructing a section of the Panamericana highway in western Panama were sent to the hospital on Saturday after being struck by a pick-up truck hauling produce. Following the event at Horconcitos, 410 km (255 mi) west of Panama City, where several drivers had been trapped for more than 24 hours, the ministry reported that one of the casualties had an arm laceration while the other had rib, ankle, and brain injuries. A video that was broadcast on Panamanian television showed the pick-up moving forward while a few indigenous protesters hurled stones at approaching cars and someone shouted encouragement off-camera. Shortages of some food items, petrol, and medications have started to occur after three weeks of nonstop protests and road blockades against high food and fuel prices in Panama. The national electric utility was compelled to limit electricity in the bordering Colombian region of Darien as a result of the closures, which included the Pan-American Highway. Tankers carrying gas for the power plant can't get there. The change from 24 hours to 11 hours per day of electricity has impacted about 7,000 families. The primary wholesale market in Panama, which serves both supermarkets and private customers, saw little foot traffic on Wednesday. There was a far smaller selection of produce available on display tables than usual. There was a shortage of vegetables, particularly tomatoes and lettuce. This vendor was consistently busy. I don't have a lot of products anymore, Victor Palacios said. There wasn't much good available Tuesday. He said that the Chirique province's western highlands are where his produce is grown. Palacios remarked that "what little has come from there is pricey and ruined." The province of Chiriqui is Panama's main source of fresh food. Important sections of the Pan-American Highway have been barricaded by the local Indigenous Ngobe-Bugle population, preventing trucks from transporting produce to the capital. Additionally, shipments arriving from other parts of Central America are being hampered by the blockades. According to organizations that represent agricultural farmers, the protests have already resulted in losses of more than $130 million. Kevin Vigil, director of the wholesale market known as Merca Panama, claimed that things had somewhat improved. He was awaiting a convoy of 30 trucks carrying food from Chiriqui after protesters removed some obstacles on the Pan-American Highway. He claimed that as the food arrived, it was quickly sold out, leaving some stands with few options. "We're attempting to get the stands 80 percent stocked today," he said, "when the cargo enters, the stands refill." The Health Ministry reported that while oxygen had become scarce at Chiriqui hospitals as well, the organization in charge of delivering it had stock in its storage in the province's capital and could restock the facilities. Thanks for watching. Please consider subscribing to the channel #Panama #foodshortage #protests ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVCqXi98ilI

oultry slaughter doubles around the world as the food shortage worsens. This season, as looming global food shortages and the rising cost of living worsen, the number of chickens killed around the world has virtually doubled. An "unprecedented" bird flu outbreak, according to experts, has resulted in a sharp increase in culling over the previous season. The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) reports that over 22 million instances of diseases in wild birds and poultry have been documented so far this season in 68 different countries. This number is twice the 11 million that was recorded between October 2020 and September 2021, which was also a record-high. A total of 94.2 million farm birds have been killed and disposed of in an effort to stop the spread. 54.4 million animals were killed last season. This season, as looming global food shortages and the rising cost of living worsen, the number of chickens killed around the world has virtually doubled. An "unprecedented" bird flu outbreak, according to experts, has resulted in a sharp increase in culling over the previous season. Prior to 2020, only twice had the number of birds killed to stop the spread of avian flu exceeded 15 million. According to experts, the rise has further disturbed supply networks, which has raised costs. The announcement comes in the midst of a crisis in the cost of living and growing food insecurity, which have been made worse by government attacks on farmers, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, inflation, exorbitant gas prices, and droughts. The Centre for Environmental Farming Systems' Kathleen Liang told The Telegraph that the situation was devastating from a market and supply perspective. "Remember that the chicken and egg are served together..." Due to avian flu, inflation, and difficulties with importing and exporting, both have unquestionably become more expensive, she continued. "A number of issues, including bird flu, are causing food instability." Some restrictions to safeguard poultry and captive birds were relaxed in the UK in May despite the country also experiencing an "unprecedented" bird flu season. However, the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone is still in effect, so bird caretakers must adhere to rigorous biosecurity regulations. According to the Telegraph's Professor Munir Iqbal, who is in charge of the avian influenza virus group at the Pirbright Institute in Surrey, the risk to agriculture is still quite significant because of the virus's continued spread among wild populations. For instance, the National Trust estimates that at least 3,000 birds have perished in the Farne Islands, which are off the coast of Northumbria. It is the worst catastrophe to affect its colonies in almost a century. In an effort to stop the spread of avian flu, the Scottish Government Agency NatureScot has urged 23 islands to stop receiving visitors. A disease outbreak could happen at any time, according to Prof. Iqbal. "H5N1 [bird flu] outbreaks are being recorded even in the summer... This indicates that the virus is prevalent among wild birds and that it is spreading to poultry. He continued, "The cost of production is rising due to both disease outbreaks and feed prices, which affect both the affordability of customers and the livelihood of farmers." In the UK and other nations, "the price of both poultry meat and eggs has dramatically skyrocketed." According to Prof. Iqbal, there are growing concerns about the potential severity of the upcoming flu season, and it is unlikely that the problem will go away immediately. The degree of bird flu infection this season has been unprecedented, according to Dr. Christine Middlemiss, the UK's top veterinary officer, who spoke to BBC Radio Four on Tuesday. We have serious concerns about what the upcoming autumn-winter season, when the migratory birds return once more, may bring. According to a Defra spokeswoman, only a small part of the 20 million birds the poultry sector produces each week—2.75 million—have been killed in the UK to date. Governments contend that alternative explanations include altered migratory patterns; increased interactions between free-range poultry and wild animals; "climate change," or an unanticipated "influenza epizootic." As Slay News reported, a food restaurant chain entrepreneur has warned the public to get ready for significant global food shortages coming this winter. The CEO of Supermac's, a significant Irish fast food chain, is advising the public to "load up immediately" on non-perishable food in order to start preparing for the impending worldwide food crisis. McDonagh placed a lot of emphasis on issues related to global fertilizer shortages. The severe lack of fertilizer threatens to cut farmers' crop output in half. He said he would advise individuals to purchase some long-life food soon. Thanks for watching. Please consider subscribing to the channel #podcast #foodcrisis #poultry #farming ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqw3qavT984