President Leonel Fernández announced the start of a nationwide program to rehabilitate cocoa farms. The government is making available RD$426 million that is expected to benefit 35,000 farmers throughout the country. The funds will be distributed via the Cocoa Commission and the Banco de Reservas to exporters and cocoa product manufacturers. These will serve as intermediaries and will channel the money to the farmers. Cocoa plantations in the DR were greatly affected by the winds and torrential rains brought by Hurricane Georges, last September 1998. Cocoa producers have also suffered the effects of low cocoa prices on international commodity markets. According to Minister of Agriculture Amilcar Romero, there are 2,436,185 tareas of cocoa planted, which make up 25% of the national forests. The planting of cocoa is seen as an incentive for the farmers to preserve the forests. Cocoa trees also contribute to biodiversity and to avoid erosion of soils. During the event held at the National Palace, the Cocoa Commission received a first allotment of RD$127.5 million to start the program.
