Abinader lashes out at rice producers: “Some people get nervous when a microphone is turned on”

Santo Domingo.- President Luis Abinader on Wednesday criticized rice producers who left a meeting at the National Palace dissatisfied, saying some participants become nervous when speaking publicly.

“Some people get nervous when a microphone is turned on,” Abinader said, arguing that all sectors involved in rice production, including the National Federation of Rice Producers (Fenarroz), had been informed about the government’s plans and the decree affecting the sector.

He said the government had discussed its strategy with rice industry representatives before taking action and insisted that everyone involved knew what measures were being considered.

Abinader also stressed that rice production is a matter of national security and said the government is defending the Dominican rice sector in negotiations with the United States amid the final phase of tariff reductions on U.S. rice under DR-CAFTA.

Dominican white rice production rose from about 9.2 million quintals in 2005 to nearly 14.8 million in 2025, while productivity reached 5,477 kilograms of paddy rice per hectare last year.