The Technical Coordinator for the Agro-forestry Development Program for the Watersheds in the Southern Region, Major General Rafael de Luna Pichirilo, said that the government intends to reforest some 700,000 tareas (1 tarea = 629 square meters) and that the 2018 budget includes RD$2.5 billion for this effort. He noted that there is an agricultural component to this effort especially in areas influenced by the dams at Sabaneta and Sabana Yegua. He also noted that many local aqueducts and irrigation systems in the area will benefit from the reforestation project.
Agriculture Minister Angel Estevez said that this is a complete project because it takes into account farm production as well as the reforestation of an important series of watersheds. He noted that the project has a high rate of return, “which means that for each pesos invested there will be a return of three pesos.” He said this means that the lives of thousands of farmers who live around the project are going to change. He noted that cacao, avocados and vegetables were going to be farmed in this area together with coffee. He said that this was the most ambitious agro-forestry project in the entire Caribbean region.
27 September 2017
