The absence of effective land use policies is taking a toll on Dominican agriculture. Official data reveals the country has lost a significant agricultural area over the past seven years, raising concerns about the sector’s sustainability and food security, El Dinero reports.
Between 2016 and 2022, the Dominican Republic witnessed a 9.2% reduction in its agricultural land, dropping from an average of 16,088,579.3 cultivated tareas (1 tarea = 629 square meters) in the initial three years to 14,612,751.9 tareas during 2020-2022. This downward trend is particularly pronounced in provinces like Barahona, where agricultural land loss exceeds 30%.
The Ministry of Economy, Planning, and Development’s (MEPyD) report, “Performance of the Dominican Republic’s Agricultural Sector (2016-2023),” shows that in 2022, the area of harvested land was 14,593,894.50 tareas, marking a 7.8% decrease compared to 2016.
MEPyD attributes these land use changes to various factors. Crop profitability, market demand, and climate conditions are key aspects influencing producers’ decisions. For instance, cereals, especially rice, have gained ground at the expense of traditional export crops like cocoa and coffee, which have seen declining yields.
Despite the reduction in farmland, the structure of agricultural production has undergone changes. Rice production has become more prominent, while traditional exports have taken a back seat. Fruit trees have seen growth, accounting for 15.8% of the harvested area in the country.
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El Dinero
20 March 2025