Farming business representatives from Haiti and the Dominican Republic met at the headquarters of the Dominican Agribusiness Board yesterday, Thursday, 30 January to discuss issues of common interest. The businesspeople are seeking bilateral cooperation to strengthen production across the entire island. As reported in Hoy, there were discussions on possible technological innovations to share experiences and incorporate new technology in farm production. Opportunities in international markets for products from both sides of the island were also discussed.
During the meeting a joint project for the planting of coconut trees, with the support of the European Union was discussed.
“Around a million coconut trees have been planted in Haiti, and we have another two million. The goal is for an additional five million to be planted so that together we have eight million coconut trees… companies like Coca Cola are backing the development of large coconut plantations around the world, because they want to launch a coconut water based energy drink,” said Dominican Agricultural Board (JAD) executive vice president Osmar Benitez.
He said coconuts also produce cream, milk, oil, and the shells and wood are also useful.
The Dominican Republic was represented by JAD president, Cesar Paniagua and fellow farming sector businesspeople Bolivar Toribio, Maria Gomez, Cesar Espaillat, Martin Familia, Apolinar Germosen, Rafael Ledesma, Frank Valdez, Carlos de la Rosa, Guido Malan, Pedro Garcia and Raymundo Roig.
Haiti was represented by Hubert Dufort, Allan Munne, Beavoir Leriche, Robert Brutus, Leogan Chatuler Router, Juan Eric Nunez, Nelson Garcia and Jeffery read.
The event was chaired by Osmar Benitez who singled out the efforts of leading Haitian agricultural businessman Hubert Dufort, a producer of coffee, cacao, vegetables, coconut essential goals and cattle ranching.
A third meeting was set for April in Port-au-Prince.
http://www.diariolibre.com/economia/2014/01/31/i461951_repblica-dominicana-hait-sembrarn-cinco-millones-plantas-coco.html