The Director of the National Grape Institute (Inuva) Carlos Manuel Perez Carvajal says that Hurricane Sandy has caused an estimated RD$6 million worth of damage to 3,000 quintals of grapes that were being stored in the Neiba Valley in Bahoruco province.
He said that he had prepared a report for Minister of Agriculture Luis Ramon Rodriguez asking for government assistance for the grape farmers in the area and to send them fertilizers.
He went on to say that the development of the grape industry required more government resources as well as private investment, and at the moment they only processed 3,000 quintals of grapes annually although 40,000 were produced, due to the lack of processing equipment.
In addition to the loss of grapes, the hurricanes caused the loss of 125 tareas of watermelon, 326 of onions, although the garlic, eggplant and tomato plantations can all be saved.
www.hoy.com.do/provincias/2012/10/29/452619/Viticultores-de-Neiba-pierden-cosechaestaba-almacenada