Over the weekend, President Medina met with the coffee growers gathered in the Association of Producers of Special Coffee of Juncalito in Santiago Province. Coffee growers in the area, as in many areas nationwide, have been affected by the rush virus that has killed countless coffee trees. .
The coffee producers have seen their production drop from 20,000 to 25,000 annual quintals to only 2,000 quintals. The renovation of the coffee plantations is estimated to take three years.
The director of the Special Fund for Farming Development (FEDA), Antonio Lopez suggested that in the meantime, coffee producers plant passion fruit. The FEDA will finance the establishment of passion fruit so that farmers will be able to generate income until the new coffee plantations spring back. President Medina approved RD$12 million financing for the new crop in Juncalito.
President Medina also approved financial support for small vegetable farmers in the region and for the making of bedspreads and sheets by the mothers club of Juncalito.
During the visit, the President also urged that any person that did not know how to read or write sign up for the government’s literacy program.