Abel Martínez, presidential candidate of the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD), criticized the Government of the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) for not preparing in time the rice producers of the country ahead of the entry into force of the trade liberalization contemplated in the Free Trade Agreement between the Dominican Republic, Central America and the United States (DR‑CAFTA). In his segment “Un Café con Abel”, the Peledeist leader described the authorities’ actions as improvised and said that the Government had years to guarantee the competitiveness of the rice sector against imports from the United States.
The importance of rice in the Dominican economy
According to Martínez, the rice consumed in the Dominican Republic exceeds fifteen million quintals annually, a volume that reflects the strength of one of the country’s agricultural economies. The leader argued that the sector needs alternatives and support policies to compete with U.S. imports under appropriate conditions.
The progressive elimination of tariffs and the lack of preparation
DR‑CAFTA provides for the progressive elimination of tariffs on U.S. rice. The candidate questioned that, despite the time available, the authorities did not sufficiently prepare national producers before the repeal, a few weeks ago, of the 2024 presidential decree that regulated cereal imports. “They had time to dignify our producers, to give them soft loans, credit, advice, so that our rice producers could compete,” Martínez said.
Proposals to support rice growers
Abel Martínez argued that the State should have proactively promoted financing mechanisms, technical assistance, and productive strengthening that would help improve the sector’s competitiveness before trade liberalization. “The Government let them loose en masse,” he said, emphasizing that the lack of responses leaves those who produce the rice that daily reaches Dominican tables in a state of uncertainty.
Impact on food security and the Dominican countryside
The presidential candidate emphasized that rice is an essential component of Dominican nutrition and a highly important activity for the countryside. The future of the rice sector, according to him, has implications both for farming families and for the country’s supply and food security.
Source credits: n.com.do
