During the second debate on Monday, September 21, legislators approved a loan from the Central American Economic Integration Banc (BCIE – Banco Centroamericano de IntegracionEconomica) for $48 million, which will be used to build two modules that will hold the Chorotega farmers market, to be located in Sardinal de Carrillo.
According to a report by Juan Marin, sent to the Hojancha Municipal Council, the project will have two buildings – one for cold products and distribution of basic grains and another for the sale of fruits, vegetables and other produce.
The buildings will occupy an area of 73 hectares (180 acres) and cost a total of $52 million, of which $4.5 will come from the Comprehensive Agriculture and Livestock Market Program (PIMA – Programa Integral de Mercado Agropecuario) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG – Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganaderia).
It is estimated that the market will generate about 450 jobs among administrators, local workers and jobs generated by other services such as restaurants, banks and collection centers.
The project will benefit more than 17,000 producers from the eleven cantons of the Guanacaste province, the canton of Upala in Alajuela and the districts of Paquera, Cobano and Lepanto on the Nicoya Peninsula.
In addition to benefitting producers, there will also be better prices and productsfor almost two thousand commercial establishments, such as hotels, supermarkets and restaurants that will have direct access to fresh products.
It is estimated that more than 58,000 tons of fruits, vegetables and basic grains will be sold through the market, as well as some 6,000 tons of beef and pork and 7,000 tons of chicken.
The bill will be sent to the Presidential House to be signed by President Luis Guillermo Solis; thereafter it will be published in the Official Daily La Gaceta to take effect.
A date to start the project has not been set, but it is estimated that when the law takes effect, the construction will start at any moment.
Budget Breakdown in Thousands of USD
| Item | BCIE | PIMA | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infrastructure and equipment | $42.570 | $42.570 | |
| Land Purchase | $2.185 | $2.185 | |
| Legal Process | $908 | $908 | |
| Administration – Supervision | $1267 | $2173 | $3440 |
| Preinvestment | $777 | $190 | $967 |
| Contingency | $1275 | $1275 | |
| Scaling | $1275 | $1275 | |
| Total | $48.025 | $4.548 | $52.574 |
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