Dominican farm association backs government measures to protect rice and agriculture

The hacendados' association praised investment in the countryside and voiced confidence in rice trade negotiations. The details are in the story.

Jonathan Rivera, president of the Dominican Association of Hacendados and Farmers (ADHA), expressed confidence in the government's efforts to protect domestic rice production amid international trade commitments. He spoke at the award of the 35th Medal of Honor for Merit, presided over this Thursday by President Luis Abinader.

Rivera highlighted that the government granted financing above RD$ 25,000 million to the agricultural sector in 2025. According to him, Banco Agrícola disbursements benefited 19,000 producers. He also praised the reactivation of the fertilizer subsidy in 2026, with an investment above RD$ 2,000 million, aimed at easing the rising international cost of farm inputs.

On rice, one of the country's main staple foods, the farm leader said the sector trusts the negotiations led by the president and national authorities. "We are aware that you have led many of those rice negotiations directly, and we trust your work and that of our representatives," he told the president.

Rivera also praised measures to contain international oil price increases which, he said, represented an effort of RD$ 11,000 million in 2025 and exceed RD$ 40,000 million so far in 2026. He also cited investments above RD$ 200 million in farm mechanization machinery, and in building and improving highways and rural roads.

Agriculture Minister Francisco Oliverio Espaillat, meanwhile, underscored the role of farmers in the country's economic and social development. He said strengthening the countryside requires improving productive efficiency, optimizing water use, protecting soils, and adopting technologies suited to individual farms. He also called for greater youth participation to ensure a generational handover.