The Dominican Republic is producing, on average, 22 million pounds of vegetables monthly mixes in greenhousesas reported by the National Director of the Department of Production Under Protected Environment (Deprobap), engineer Luis Rosario Pérez.
With the figures that he systematically calculates, he explained that the country has an area of 10,536,574 square meters of greenhouses at the national level, where the main vegetables what is they cultivate They are the chili peppers, including morrón, cubanela and spicy. Also, tomatoes, such as those for consumption in salads, of the Bugalú, Barceló and cherri types; and cucumbers, both American, Creole and Persian.
“Also, we are growing a lot strawberrylettuce, flowers and various herbs aromatic plants,” he told Diario Libre, indicating that, “in total there are more than 20 crops what we have in the greenhouses“.
Other agricultural products that are produced in these areas, to a lesser extent, but still very relevant, are the eggplantsonions, cauliflowerbroccoli, gourmet lettuce, purple cabbage, melon, watermelon and tobacco.
As of August 2024, the country had registered 175,958,161 pounds of vegetables produced in greenhousesaccording to Rosario Pérez, so if the estimated monthly average is 22 million, the year closed at around 264 million pounds. This represents an increase compared to 255,642,498 in 2023, when the monthly average reached 21,303,541 pounds, on an area of 10,169,045 square meters.
The 2020 census reveals the real situation
According to data from Department of agriculture supplied by Rosario Pérez, in the Production History in the Greenhouses From 2016 to 2024, there is a gradual increase in square meters dedicated to this sector, until 2019. In 2020, the year of pandemic of Covid-19, a reduction was recorded: 8,972,441, compared to 2019, which totaled 11,786,650.
That difference, according to the national director of the Deprobapwas due to the fact that, in 2020, when President Luis Abinader assumed state management, a new census was carried out that showed that the real number of square meters of greenhouses was 8,972,441, which he attributed to “many producers throughout the national geography they made many greenhouses of wood and poor quality wood, so, as prices depressed, many people left them.
He recalled that in 2018, with the plague of the Mediterranean fly, “exports were closed, and this was the main reason for people leaving the greenhouses“So, that’s why we found only 8.9 million meters,” he argued.
Provinces with the highest production
According to the official, the country has 860 producers of greenhouseswith 1,826 structures.
- The districts with the highest production are: San José de Ocoa (Rancho Arriba), with 36.6%; La Vega (Constanza, 28.8%, and Jarabacoa, 13.0%); the southwest (San Juan and Azua) with 9.4%; the northwest, (Moca and Santiago), with 8.5%, and the east (La Romana, Higüey and El Seibo), with 3.6%.
According to the official, the country has 860 producers of greenhouseswith 1,826 structures.
Challenges sanitary
“Our challenge is to work with insects beneficial (organisms that help control pests and pollinate plants) or with biological controls,” said the official, who asserted that they have been working hard to help producers abandon the use of pesticides, especially agrochemicals.
He stated that they are working to educate the producersso that they adopt biological controls with the insects beneficial and with fungi and mites, among other living beings that help control the pests and diseases. “So, we are focused on that part,” he said.
He explained that agricultural authorities have had to face great challenges with the use of pesticides in the production of crops. greenhouses.
For this reason, it is arranged that the United States send technicians to the country to inspect the exports, so that when they arrive in that country, they are not returned, “because the health part is our challenge.”
Regarding exports, he emphasized that the country exports to the European market and that the largest production goes to the United States and nearby islands, especially Puerto Rico.
Climate change and support Government
According to Rosario Pérez, Abinader’s management has supported the producers of greenhouses in situations of atmospheric conditionssuch as tornadoes and cyclones, among others.
“President Luis Abinader has been very motivated to help all national production,” said Rosario Pérez, who specified that, in the case of the producers of greenhousesthe government donated “as aid some 174 million pesos“.
Also, he highlighted, restructuring of the Agricultural Bank loans was carried out, and zero rates were applied to productions, in what constituted specific rescues.
Engineer Rosario Pérez recommended building the greenhouses “with quality materials”, whether wood, iron or metal. Place them in the appropriate areas, so that the investment achieves its objectives.
He cited, for example, that it is not the same to build a greenhouse in Constanza or San José de Ocoa as it is to locate it in La Vega, because the temperatures are not the same. He also suggested building them with a height of more or less 500 meters above sea level, “so that the climate does not attack production too much.”
He also stressed the importance of designing the structure according to the type of crop, considering the weight of the plantations, which is crucial to ensure the durability and protection of the greenhouse.
“We recommend that producers build greenhouses with quality materials”National Director of DEPROBAP
