Dominican senator proposes bill to protect and strengthen national rice production

Santo Domingo.- Senator Franklin Romero of Duarte province has introduced a bill in the Dominican Republic’s Senate aimed at protecting, promoting and strengthening national rice production.

The Bill for the Protection and Promotion of National Rice Production was referred to the Senate’s Permanent Commission of Agricultural and Agro-industrial Affairs and has received the support of nearly all senators through their signatures.

The proposed legislation seeks to establish a permanent legal framework to improve the productivity and competitiveness of the rice sector, preserve domestic production capacity and strengthen food security, with particular attention to small and medium-sized producers.

National Rice Competitiveness Program

One of the proposal’s key measures is the creation of a National Rice Competitiveness Program, to be coordinated by the Ministry of Agriculture as a permanent mechanism for implementing policies and measures established under the proposed law.

The program would seek to increase yields, reduce production costs, improve rice quality and competitiveness, promote research and technological innovation, and strengthen the productive capacity of small and medium-sized farmers.

It would also focus on reducing losses during harvesting, transportation and storage, promoting efficient use of water and soil, and improving producers’ access to financing, agricultural insurance and marketing services.

Romero said the initiative responds to concerns about the future of the rice sector following the repeal of Decree No. 693-24, which established tariff measures to protect domestic production from imports.

The senator argued that a permanent legal framework would provide greater stability and legal certainty for producers, allowing them to plan their harvests, maintain the profitability of their operations and contribute to the country’s food supply.

The bill seeks to strengthen public policies supporting domestic rice production while promoting market stability and protecting the rural communities and families that depend directly and indirectly on the cultivation, processing and marketing of rice.