Dominican Republic to import planatins as price skyrockets

Santo Domingo.- The AgricultureMinistry on Friday announced authorizations to import plantains (green banana) asskyrocketing prices from a year-long drought and Tropical Storm Erika flattenedplantations, unleashing shortages and consumer worries.

The spiraling priceof one plantain, now at an unprecedented RD$30 (US$0.66) depending on size, on Wednesdayprompted Agriculture minister Angel Estevez to chide: “Buy potatoes at eightpesos the pound instead.”

In a statement, AgricultureMinistry spokesman Pedro Jimenez said the decision taken Thursday night wascoordinated with plantain producers, supermarkets and marketing companies to agreeon imports after conducting a survey on plantations.

"We realizedthat this shortage can be extended and we cannot allow a plantain to cost 25 or30 pesos," the official said.

He stressed that the measurewould be in effect until domestic harvests recover, adding that the plantainswould be imported from Costa Rica and other area countries.