Marcelo Reyes Jorge, president of the National Federation of Rice Producers, (Fenarroz), said that the Free Trade Agreement between the United States, Central America and the Dominican Republic (DR-Cafta), constitutes a threat to national food security because it would bankrupt local producers.
consulted by Free Dailyon the subject of the request for renegotiation of the tariffs of the rice for importation from the United States under the cited agreementnoted that he hopes that the government Look for a solution for the benefit of the thousands of national producers of the cereal.
“We are hopeful that the government take the necessary measures to defend ourselves in this sector of such importance for the agricultural economy of our country”, indicated Marcelo.
Committee meeting on Tuesday
He revealed that on Tuesday, representatives of the committee formed at the request of President Luis Abinader, to seek solutions to the problem, will hold a meeting at the headquarters of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Mipymes, (MICM).
“The president spoke and ratified his opinion, and created a committee that is already working; they invited us to a meeting in Santo Domingo on Tuesday, we are going to participate in it, as part of the committee, for Fenarroz, I will be there, but not I know who will be on the industrial side”, Reyes Jorge said.
The rice businessman said that there are still no proposals and one is expected to be obtained as soon as the producers and the government.
Current rice production prices
Marcelo pointed out that currently the bushel of rice (120 kilos of rice in green shell), it is being purchased for RD$2,875 plus 100 pesos of incentives that subsidize the government to avoid price increases to the consumer.
Meanwhile, he indicated that for each task the production cost is RD$8,270.
These reiterated values such as production costs do not compensate for a minimum profitability for the producer to survive, said the agricultural harvester.
The price of rice Dominican Republic is lower than that of many countries in the region, including the United States, he added.
“81 countries were evaluated on the price of white rice and today, the Dominican Republic is eating much cheaper rice than many countries, including the United States, thanks to the fact that producers in the Dominican Republic are guaranteeing national food sovereignty,” said.
Likewise, he maintained that 75% of the productive areas of the rice They are in the area known as the Delta del Yuna, this ranges from La Vega and towards the province of Duarte, Sánchez Ramírez, and María Trinidad Sánchez, according to statistical data.
