The challenges for Dominican farmers, such as the upcoming DR-CAFTA, the EPA (a treaty with Europe) and the emerging agricultural powers, have alerted the private food production sector, which is grouped in the Dominican Agribusiness Board (JAD), of the need to strengthen the quality of their production.
One of the projects, launched in the agribusinesses guild consists of accompanying measures for the banana sector in the Dominican Republic. According to its administrative coordinator, Jose V. Galindo, they have a budget of 1,000 million pesos to train 7000 workers and technicians that work in the sector.
"The banana from the Dominican Republic positions itself in the world thanks to its quality. Now we have to strengthen that value in order to gain market share around the world", said Galindo.
The specialist said there were geographical references of 1,815 farms that produced bananas. In early 2016, the country estimated it had a cultivated area of more than 16,981 hectares.
The banana sector is supported by small producers. According to data from the program, 57% of the farms have fewer than 4.7 hectares.
"Only 65% of the land devoted to banana cultivation has land titles," he said.
Domestic banana production has a gross value of 420 million dollars per year, according to an estimate from the European Union and the JAD.
The export volume in 2015 was 580,000 tons worth 358 million dollars, according to the Directorate General of Customs.
"Cultivation of organic bananas went from 53% of the total banana production in 2013 to 80% in 2015. Estimates are that it will increase to 86% by the end of 2016," said the administrative coordinator of the banana development program.
The banana industry creates more than 32,000 direct jobs, 44% of which are permanent positions, and 13% of the workers are women.
"The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is responsible for improving the working conditions of farm workers, one of the cornerstones of increasing the product's competitiveness," said Galindo.
Source: listindiario.com