Following Hurricane Irma, reports are of major losses in agricultural crops in the municipalities of Luperón, Villa Isabela and other parts in the west of Puerto Plata province due to destructive winds and intense rains.
The wind gusts destroyed entire plantations of plantains and bananas in the communities of Belloso, Ranchito de Los Vargas, Las Paredes, Martín Alonzo, La Sabana, Los Arquies, Las Culebras, Las Maras, and others in Luperón.
Farmer Evelio Tavares, said that not a single plantain tree was left standing in Ranchito de Los Vargas.
Puerto Plata senator José Ignacio Paliza toured the area and said that just in the municipal district of Belloso around 8,000 tareas of plantains and bananas had been destroyed.
He asked the government, especially the Ministry of Agriculture and the Special Fund for the Development of Agriculture to help the affected producers.
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El Dia
14 September 2017
