A rather strange source for farming information, the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) has announced that their farm committee has carried out an inventory of the nation’s garlic supply, and found that there are about 85,000 qq (quintals, or 100 pounds) of garlic in warehouses. The garlic inventory is sufficient to satisfy demand. As reported, the 8.5 million pounds of garlic are located in 93 freight containers. The committee noted that two-thirds of the garlic is imported and one-third is locally grown, mostly by small farmers. The inventory represents consumption needs until February of next year (2021).
However, the committee did point out that the cost of the imported garlic from China is RD $ 26.40 a pound (around US$0.045 (4.5 cents) and the local market price is generally around RD$200 a pound to consumers. This 650% markup is considered to be outrageous, and they would like the government to explain why this is permitted. Oh well, politics as usual.
Read more in Spanish:
El Caribe
14 June 2020