The Dominican Republic is a worldwide leader in organic agriculture with its just over 162,000 hectares of a range of crops and 24,161 certified growers, whose exports bring over US$200 million into the economy.
Luis Ramon Rodriguez, Minister of Agriculture, has now announced the creation of a new Department for Organic Agriculture (DAO) at the Ministry of Agriculture.
He said that organic agriculture was increasing in importance due to the growing demand for these products in the international markets.
The new department will evaluate, register and inspect the activities of both operators and certification bodies in the country. It will also promote organic agriculture through all the Regional Agricultural Directorates of the Ministry of Agriculture.
The main organic products for export include cacao, bananas, coffee, coconuts, mangoes, lemons, avocados, melons, ginger, macadamia nuts, cassava and vegetables.
In 2012, the country exported 96,235 tons of cacao, 165,000 of bananas, 4,107 of coffee, 3,432 of coconuts, 3,156 of mangoes, 2,180 of lemons, 563 of avocados, 1,200 of melons, 98 of ginger, 36 of macadamia nuts, 2,024 of cassava and 615 tons of vegetables.
In the south, around 11,805 producers grow organic bananas, mangoes, coffee, cacao, oranges and lemons, while in the northern central regions 5,074 producers cultivate organic cacao, coffee, vegetables and lemons.
In the north, 725 producers grow coffee, cacao and avocados, in the northwestern regions, 5,457 cultivate organic bananas, mangoes, lemons and coffee and in the east, 1,100 produce organic cacao and coconuts.
www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=106075