Dominican government launches plan to stop irregular occupations of Agrarian Reform Lands
Santo Domingo.- The Dominican government has activated a protocol to address invasions and irregular occupations of land belonging to Agrarian Reform projects, with the aim of strengthening legal certainty for farmers and protecting agricultural production.
The plan was agreed upon during a meeting at the Ministry of Agriculture involving Justice Minister Antoliano Peralta, Agriculture Minister Francisco Olivo Espaillat, Dominican Agrarian Institute (IAD) director Darío Castillo Lugo, and representatives of major peasant organizations.
Authorities will conduct a survey to establish a legal, technical and operational intervention plan for areas affected by land disputes. The initial locations identified include Mogollón in San Juan de la Maguana, Villa Riva, Montecristi, Monte Plata and Villa Altagracia.
According to the government, farmers reported that individuals seeking to take control of agricultural land allegedly use intermediaries and purported legal or institutional connections to displace legitimate producers.
The organizations warned that these situations threaten the stability and property of farmers who have worked the land for years and can generate conflicts that put their safety at risk.
Commission to investigate land disputes
As part of the protocol, an inter-institutional technical commission will document the reported cases, assess their legal and territorial status and recommend appropriate actions.
The commission will also identify mechanisms to advance the regularization and definitive titling of land, where applicable.
Justice Minister Peralta said authorities will act in accordance with due process and use existing legal mechanisms to protect producers’ rights and preserve land designated for agricultural development.
Agriculture Minister Olivo Espaillat said land security is directly linked to agricultural production and national food security. “We are going to promote the necessary actions so that these lands fulfill the purpose for which they were intended: to produce food and generate well-being in the Dominican countryside,” he said.
The government said the protocol will include monitoring mechanisms involving the Ministries of Justice and Agriculture and the IAD, with participation from peasant organizations.
Authorities said the measures will follow the country’s current legal framework and due process, both to address existing cases and prevent further irregular occupations of Agrarian Reform lands.
