Late last week, Agriculture Minister Osmar Benitez announced a record rice crop of more than 8,000,000 qq (quintals = 100lbs), guaranteeing a steady supply for local consumers. He made the announcement after meeting with President Danilo Medina at the Presidential Palace.
Benitez said that the government will be purchasing 1.2 million pounds of poultry from small producers, in addition to the 5.8 million pounds they are buying from the larger companies. He announced the government would purchase 260,000 pounds of cheese, and 2.2 million eggs each week.
The minister also reported that producers that formerly supplied hotels and restaurants are signing up to supply the government food-purchasing programs. All this food will be channeled through the social programs of the government: the Presidential Social Plan; the Government Cafeterias (Comedores Economicos); the National Institute for Student Welfare (INABIE) and the Price Stabilization Institute (Inespre). Benitez also noted that both Rica and Nestle are sourcing more milk from local producers.
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Listin Diario.
11 May 2020