Dominican Republic: Banana import leads to controversy

According to the former Secretary of Agriculture, Eligio Jáquez, President Danilo Medina means to import 100 containers of bananas from Central America. The controversial transaction, representing over 12 million kg, has met with strong criticism. The vice-president of PRD claims the foreign shipments will not only cause unfair competition for domestic growers, but that they also carry the dreaded Moko bacteria.

The Moko bacteria are known to cause disease and are capable of wiping out entire plantations. Jáquez fears possible infection will affect EU trade. “Growers from Moca, La Vega, Salcedo, Línea Noroeste, Barahona, Azua and Peravia cannot understand why the government would take such an unprecedented risk,” he states. “So far, our country has been spared this terrible disease.”

Jáquez thinks Medina should have consulted local growers before taking these drastic actions to tackle domestic shortages. “He could have imported potatoes from Canada, Holland, Germany or the US instead of infected bananas.”

Source: Almomento.net