According to the president of the National Federation of Rice Producers (Fenarroz), Mauricio Maria, Dominicans consume around a million quintals of rice a month, equivalent to 33,333 quintals a day. A quintal is 100 kilograms, equal to about 220.5 pounds. Despite the drought impacting more than 50,000 tareas planted with rice in the Northwest, he said that production is sufficient to meet the demands of the population.
According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, between January and August 2019, the production of rice reached 8,528,734 quintals, with 1,761,329 tareas planted with rice. One tarea is equal to 629 square meters.
However, Maria said that the Northwest and San Juan de la Maguana are the most impacted areas. Luckily other areas, such as the Central Cibao, were not affected by the drought.
At the moment, rice is sold between RD$2,200 and RD$2,400 for a 125-pound bag. There are more than 30,000 rice farmers in the country and the industry generates more than 60,000 direct and indirect jobs. Each Dominican eats around 20 pounds of rice a month, nearly three quarters of a pound a day.
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Diario Libre
16 October 2019