The director of the Siembra RD Program, Leonardo Faña, described as a success what was raised by Listín Diario in its editorial last Thursday, June 30, about the urgent need for the government to encourage and facilitate the installation of poultry farms and heatwaves throughout the country. country to be able to face the looming crisis in the production and availability of food.
When asked, Faña stated that food production at home and in the communities is “necessary and essential” and indicated that, through the “Siembra RD Program”, 10,000 laying chicks will be delivered to different communities to be raised in the family patios and thus promote the sustainability of food security.
He explained that work is being done to install 11 chicken farms in the South and announced that there is already one in the La Luisa community, in Monte Plata.
He said that the country produces 18 to 19 million chickens monthly and that it is necessary to increase that production to guarantee the sufficiency of this meat, which is the most consumed by Dominican families.
He added that in the community of Las Tablas in the Baní province they are preparing some five wells and a reservoir, in addition to preparing the land for the planting of 2,700 tasks of corn and a food area (sweet potato, cassava).
Faña pointed out that the construction of four turkey farms is contemplated, one of these in Las Tablas in Baní, for which 5,000 eggs that come from Belgium have already been contracted and will be incubated in La Vega. “For Christmas we will have Creole turkeys,” said Faña.
He pointed out that, in that same community, there is a project to install two school gardens to encourage food production among teachers and students.
Faña explained that, as part of the actions of the Plan, they are identifying a cooperative in the South region to deliver 10,000 chicks and the supplies that these entail under financing from the Agricultural Bank, which he said will be ready on the 18th of this month.
He said that he also plans to deliver 400 calves or 200-pound steers for fattening and that they will help the producers for the production of herbs and the establishment of paddocks.
Investment
According to Faña, the State will have RD$1.2 billion available for the purchase of machinery and equipment and everything that is needed. In addition, through the Agricultural Bank, RD$3.4 billion will be available for financing at a rate of 6%.
Chicken sale
The director of the Siembra RD Program, Leonardo Faña, pointed out that they have delivered about 20,000 chicks for fattening and growth in the community of Luisa de Monte Plata and that by the 25th of this month they plan to start selling chickens of four and five pounds to RD$100.00, as part of the plan to supply food to the population.
Sowing Plan RD
The Siembra RD plan, which is executed under the direction of the Ministry of Agriculture, contemplates the installation of eleven chicken and egg farms, with a capacity of 15,000 each. Also, the installation of two turkey farms, with a capacity of 12,000 units and the donation of 10,000 laying hens to the beneficiary families of this program. Likewise, the installation of 12 fish farms with 4 100 m3 tanks.
Inflation.
The prices of the products of the basic basket continue to increase in commercial establishments.
Figures from the Central Bank refer to year-on-year inflation of 9.47%, the highest in all of Larina America.
According to experts, the increase in food production is an urgent need to face the crisis.