President Luis Abinader reported on Wednesday, 12 July 2023, on positive findings of the report of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO): “The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World”. The Presidency highlights that the recent report indicates the Dominican Republic is one of the few countries that have registered a reduction in malnutrition and food insecurity.
Agriculture Minister Limber Cruz, the administrator of the Agricultural Bank Fernando Durán and the executive director of Inespre, Iván Hernández Guzmán, were present for the press conference from the Green Room of the Presidential Palace.
Agriculture Minister Limber Cruz said that malnutrition declined from 8.3% to 6.7%, in the period 2019-2021, and to date has been reduced to 6.3%. In the same period, the food-insecure population dropped from 24% to 22%, which reflects an improvement in the population’s ability to access food goods.
Cruz pointed out agricultural production has increased, specifically in rice, chickens, eggs, bananas, fruits and vegetables. He said the government has made crop financing available, including land preparation, technical assistance, fertilizer subsidies, planting material, and agricultural equipment”.
The Minister of Agriculture informed that 150 tractors with agricultural implements and planting materials have been distributed throughout the country since the beginning of this period of government, which has increased the production of all crops.
He emphasized that for the first time the country is self-sufficient in rice and that there are more than 1,500,000 quintals of rice in storage.
Regarding financing, he indicated that more than RD$89 billion has been delivered to farmers and RD$17 million have been lent at zero intereset rate.
He also highlighted the role of the Economic Canteens (Inespre), School Feeding programs, the Supérate card, gas and electricity vouchers to reduce poverty in rural communities.
“This trend brings us closer every day to reach 5%, the level established by FAO when a country is said to be free from hunger,” said Limber Cruz.
The press release on the event did not mention whether FAO representative in the Dominican Republic, Rodrigo Castañeda was present for the event.
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Presidency
FAO
13 July 2023