There will be enough production of rice, beans, beef and chicken, as well as products for salads, affirmed the president of the JAD, Osmar Benítez
The Dominican Agribusiness Board (JAD) He assured that the country has a sufficient supply to cover the demand for agricultural goods of great consumption in the Christmas period.
The executive president of the JAD, Osmar Benítez, specified that the supply of food for Christmas is guaranteed, such as rice, beans, pigeon peas, and pork and chicken meat.
Regarding rice, he said that there is a warehouse inventory of more than seven million quintals and the spring harvest will begin in April.
Benítez participated in the Today Economic Meeting accompanied by Porfirio Álvarez, manager of the National Integrated Pest Management Program; Elfrida Pimentel, manager of the Dominican Agribusiness Stock Exchange, and Laura Peralta, manager of the Agribusiness Innovation Center.
“The country has been achieving productive self-sufficiency in rice to such a point that we are covering one hundred percent of the demand; always, of course, there is an importation of rice that is established in commercial agreements”, said Benítez.
He considered that the country traditionally has a large production of pigeon peas for December, especially from the 15th of that month. That product, he stated, is widely used for Christmas and New Year’s dinners.
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He explained that there will be a sufficient supply of beans to cover the demand through national production and imports.
He recalled that pork production has been affected by African swine fever. He indicated that the large producers (329 organized farms) contribute 70% of the national production and the rest are small producers.
The sector, he affirmed, is in a position to cover the demand for pork in the country and recalled that the pork sector produces 72% of the meat supply.
Chicken production covers all the country’s demand, even much more, and the goal is to reach 20 or 21 million chickens by December, he said.
He explained that there are enough vegetables in Constanza, Jarabacoa and Rancho Arriba, such as cabbage, tomato, carrot, cucumber, eggplant and beetroot, which are used for salads during Christmas.
The executive president of the JAD said that the cakes and lerenes are also guaranteed.
He said that table grapes are being produced in Neiba and that the Government has promised to sow 160,000 tasks in the country.
A producer from Neiba, a technician trained in South America, produces a juicy and fresh grape, but the production is minimal, since he has 400 or 500 tasks, said Benítez.
He recalled that apples have to be imported, because they are not produced in the country.
He emphasized that the supply of food for Christmas is guaranteed, as has been traditional in the country.
He stressed that farmers have assumed the commitment to maintain the food supply in the country.
He said that more than 85% of the food demand in the country comes from national production.
He indicated that 100% of the national demand is produced in plantain, cassava and sweet potato.
