Rice growers gloat with US$480.0M harvest

Santo Domingo.- The head of the national rice growers association (Fenarroz) on Tues. said the central and northwest plantations will carry out their second harvest with no problems, although he acknowledged difficulties with the water supply.

Mauricio María also noted that there is no real third rice harvest, but that some growers plant again after the second cut. “We do not agree with implementing this third harvest and even more so in those areas where there are difficulties with water, as is the case of the San Juan Valley (west).”

He reiterated that the central and northwest regions’ growers don’t face any problems with the second crop.

Maria affirmed that domestic demand will be met. “As of July 30 the rice sector has 480 million pounds in the mills and the official harvest begins in August, September and October.”

The rice sector moves more than RD$24.0 billion (US$480.0 million) each year; and accounts for more than 350,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Agriculture minister Osmar Benítez on Monday announced that the third rice planting was suspended due to the drought that affects much of the country.