In a press release sent to Diario Libre, tobacco farmers from the north west have asked the government to remember the socio-economic consequences in the area following the tax reform in 2007 when cigarettes increased in price and the tobacco harvest was subsequently reduced by 30%.
A tobacco farmer, Juan Tavares, said that it was a difficult time in the countryside, as there was no money and they had no other options but to grow tobacco.
By 2010-2011 the level of planted tobacco had increased somewhat, and was 14% higher than 2005-2006, but according to Griselda Altagracia Valle, representing the tobacco farmers at INTABACO, it had taken five years to get back to that level after the tax increase. She said that another increase would cause the breakdown of the industry.
The Dominican tobacco industry employs around 7,500 people at harvest time, in La Canela, Mao, Piloto, Cana Chapeton, La Antona, La Horca, Carnero and Clavellina, in the provinces of Montecristi, Valverde (Mao) and Santiago.
www.diariolibre.com/reformafiscal/2012/10/31/i357931_cosecheros-tabaco-rubio-dicen-gobierno-esta-desinformado-las-consecuencias-reforma-del-2007.html