In his latest “surprise” visit over the weekend of Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 March, President Medina was in Polo and Villa Nizao in Paraiso in Barahona to meet with coffee, passion fruit, cacao and poultry farmers. He said that RD$39 million would be available to support coffee farming in Barahona (Polo and Paraiso) through the Special Fund for Agricultural Development (FEDA) program.
Of the RD$39 million, RD$12 million will go to Organic Coffee Producers Cooperative (Coopaprocosemup) in Polo, led by Israel Cuevas Feliz and RD$27 million to coffee growers in Villa Nizao in Paraiso for needed renovations of their farms with roya pest-resistant varieties.
He was accompanied on the trip by the Minister of the Presidency Gustavo Montalvo, Minister of Public Works Gonzalo Castillo and FEDA director Antonio Lopez. Medina said the loans would have low interest rates but must be repaid so the funds could later be used for others.
On the trip to the Southwest, the President also approved the reconstruction of the multi-use facility in Polo, as well as streets and sidewalks in the municipality. He promised a minibus would be sent to transport students from Polo to the Barahona UASD University.
www.listindiario.com/la-republica/2014/3/16/314553/Medina-aprueba-financiamiento-de-12-millones-para-productores-de-cafe-de
www.diariolibre.com/noticias/2014/03/17/i528681_danilo-medina-otorga-crditos-por-rd39-millones-productores.html