President Danilo Medina has repeatedly said the Dominican Republic produces 85% of the food it consumes. Nevertheless, Jorge Morales, of the National Council of Supplies Trade (CNCP) says the Dominican Republic is no longer self-sufficient in traditional agricultural products produced here. According to Morales, imports have taken local producers out of business. The Dominican Republic has now become a major importer of beans, garlic, rice, dairy products, corn, oils, coffee and cassava, when in the past it was a major producer.
“We have the capacity to be a self-sufficient country, and depending on others is costing us hundreds of millions of dollars. The government has to emphasize that,” Morales said, adding that because of this situation the consumer is having to pay more for these products.
In an interview at Listín Diario to announce the hosting of the Expo Provisiones 2019, he urged that the government take measures to encourage local production and increase backing to farmers. He said the country is far from being competitive in agro-industrial production. “We cannot stay behind being merely an agricultural nation.” He stressed that raw materials must be transformed to be less dependent on imports.
Expo Provisiones is organized by the National Council of Provisions in Commerce (Consejo Nacional de Provisiones en Comercio) and will take place at the Sambil Mall from 31 May to 2 June from 10am to 10pm. An estimated 100 mass consumption product companies will be participating.
Read more in Spanish:
CNCP
Listin Diario
MetroRD
9 May 2019