Rivero highlights the solidity of livestock in the country

Santo Domingo – The President of the Dominican Association of Milk Producers (Aproleche), Eric Rivero, highlighted Thursday the strength of Dominican livestock, which he said is not casual but due to the national producers’ work, coherence, and unity.

He said that it has been possible to identify real leaders in each of the communities “who today fill with pride and commitment to those of us who have this as a mandate that has given us even something beyond the natural because we assume it with an intensity among all that sometimes we are even branded as crazy.

He said that the current leadership and members of Aproleche should feel proud of the leadership shown by the presidents of federations and associations, whom he described as committed and supportive people who are an example of work. He said that the grassroots cattlemen have been able to stand up thanks to the work they do and a lot of effort.

He affirmed that thanks to this unity, today we can show achievements, such as the fact that the State has recognized that milk for school breakfast must be of national production.

“We must continue to identify leaders committed to our cause so that livestock farming always has someone to defend it and speak for it,” said Rivero, re-elected as President of Aproleche for a new two-year term. The activity occurred at the Livestock Fair’s Doctora Mireya Schécker auction pavilion.

The members present came from as far away as Duvergé, Nisibón, Santiago Rodríguez, Puerto Plata, Cotuí, La Vega, and El Seibo, among others.

“From the federations, Aproleche and the institutions of the government of President Luis Abinader that have an impact on livestock, we have reaffirmed our commitment to improve the quality of life, our productivity, our production,” said Rivero, also an agricultural advisor to the Executive Branch.

He highlighted Aproleche’s good financial management and said that the external auditors recommended that the union continue to manage without any problem with the resources because there is a surplus of 32 million pesos, which so far has not been used. “This is how this directive has been managed,” he emphasized.

He mentioned that the Livestock Improvement Program (Promegan) is part of the public policies implemented and pointed out that Aproleche’s work team has visited more than 220 livestock associations throughout the country, intervened in more than 250,000 pastures, and inseminated more than 28,000 cows throughout the country, among other things.

He announced that a program to support cheese dairies will soon be put into effect and that in January, a pilot plan will begin to distribute yogurt of national production in two schools of the National District, “which is being assumed by Conaleche with the costs in order to show that we will have a snack and a food supplement of quality and local production.”

He asked the leaders and livestock partners to monitor their sector, understanding that the guild does this work.

“We must be aware of some misconduct, and from here, I denounce: based on the whim of some, genetics are being brought here from countries that are not authorized, that put our health at risk, and that put at risk the most historic of our activities, which is livestock,” he said.

The treasurer’s report, corresponding to the period October 2023 to September 2024, read by the secretary Minerva Then and prepared by the auditing firm D&P Consulting, SRL, showed that the total net income was RD$139,828,063; merchandise in stock was $105,299,583, with a gross result of $34,528,480. The general and administrative expenses were of the order of $33,649,824.

Apart from Rivero, the other members of the new board of directors, unanimously approved by the concurrence of the members, are Rolando de Jesús Peralta, first vice-president; Arismendy Rodríguez, second vice-president; Juan Recio Hernández, treasurer, and as members Domingo Espinal, Felipe Troncoso Brea, José Antonio Peña, Bienvenido Ripoll, Francisco Matos, Franklin Espinal, Berty Chireno, Abel Madera, Pedro Castillo and Pedro Aníbal Thomas.

Acknowledgments

During the activity, Aproleche presented awards to the President of the Senate, Ricardo de los Santos, for his support of the agricultural sector. Also, to the farmers Apolinar Suero, Daniel Valerio, Berty Chireno, Minerva Then, Juanito Belén, Bienvenido Ripoll, Roberto Ignacio Tavárez, and Pedro Castillo Areché.

Pedro Aníbal Thomas, President of the Cooperativa de Ganaderos de la Línea Noroeste; Raúl Antonio García, who set up the union’s supply store.