Probably one of the most knowledgeable persons on agriculture in the Dominican Republic, newly-appointed Agriculture Minister Osmar Benítez says that the main challenge for the farming sector is to increase market share for Dominican produce abroad. At his swearing in ceremony, he said he will concentrate on increasing exports.
He told the press that he would work on public farm policies to increase supply of popular food products, such as rice, milk, beans, chicken, eggs, plantains, cassava. He said he favors providing these sectors with incentives to increase productivity and profitability. He said he also favors working on developing a strategy focused on promoting exports of goods where the Dominican Republic has competitive and comparative advantages.
He said he would continue programs begun by his predecessor and would contribute new ideas. “I want farming to be a profitable activity,” said the new minister upon being sworn in at the Presidential Palace.
Benitez is a graduate in food engineering from the PUCMM in Santiago with undergraduate studies at the Instituto Superior de Agricultura (ISA) in Santiago. He has been a farmer, plantain contractor for Frito Lay, and founder of the Dominican Agribusiness Board (JAD) in 1984. At the time of his appointment, he was executive president of the JAD. On several occasions he has been farming advisor to the President of the Republic.
Read more in Spanish:
Presidencia
Listin Diario
14 May 2018
