During his “surprise” weekend visit to the province of Monte Plata on Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 June, President Danilo Medina met with producers of chocolate, pineapples, honey and limes. Meeting with groups of small-scale farmers, he offered soft loans for their programs and at times, he held off and said that a team of specialists would need to investigate the situation first. For example, during talks with beekeepers, he advised them to increase their numbers significantly, from around 1,000 to at least 3,700 hives and the number of members to 300. The cacao producers only wanted an extension of their credit lines at the Agriculture Bank, and Medina said that this Thursday, 6 June a special commission would travel to Monte Plata to look at their programs. Women who produce wine and chocolate-based products asked the President for about RD$13.5 million in credit and Medina said that he would approve it after listening to their program of investments.