Agro chief heads hybrid corn harvest in western valley

San Juan, Dominican Republic.-Agriculture minister Angel Estevez on Sunday headed the hybrid corn harvestseason with new combines as part of the government plant to transform thefertile western valley by jumpstarting it with modern agriculture.

He said over 250,000hectares were planted in the region at a cost of more than RD$30 million tobenefit some 202 farmers, adding that additional lands are being prepared toplant hybrid corn from seeds of high genetic quality.

"The basis totruly transform is the producers´ willingness. Here in San Juan we began byleveling the land, preparing and establishing good agricultural practices withthe marketing part of the entire production chain that are carrying out to becompetitive producers in the region and create new alternatives for production,"the official said.