We were reading about the expansion of Dominican Republic agro products exportations.we believe that for storage and distribution the dominicans can achieve better results using agro industrial products.
Agriculture in the Dominican
Republic has changed dramatically during the later part of the last
century. Agriculture employed some 60% of the population in 1960 and
was reduced to 18% in the year 2000 (Banco Central, 2000).
The
question that must be asked, is agricultural development a viable
conservation and development strategy for rural communities in the
Dominican Republic?
The Center for Planning and Ecumenical
Action (CEPAE) founded on October 27, 1970 in the Dominican Republic
believes that many development projects fail because they perceive
agriculture as a technical activity.
Agro industrial would solve the storage and maintenance issues that can show up with our warm weather and timing issues.
Somehow these obstacle came to my mind:
- An inconsistent and insufficient supply of raw material for no seasonal crops
- Poor
quality of raw material supply and high losses during transport from
farm to factory
- Poor and inconsistent quality of processed products ( the norm in dominican agriculture)
- Sub-optimal use of processing facilities and equipment
- Poorly trained personnel and a lack of qualified food technologists
- A lack of proper sanitation practices of dominican and haitian workers ( we need to be realistic)
- Inappropriate packaging materials and high packaging cost
- Weak or non-existent market development and proper experience in DR
- A lack of technical support for the agro-industrial sector in DR
- Absence of good management of the processing facility once commercialized
- Other
issuers to consider include: Electricity and refrigeration issues,
storage issues, road infrastructure issues, transportation of agro
products in DR,proper logistic, Dominican burocracy,security, etc,etc
The question is what does it take as Dominicans to achieve those proper exporting goals?
I
have to agree with Atabey that the future looks wider with Russian and
Brazilian opportunities and new road infrastructure , but it takes the
initiative of the private sector , not the government to do that.
The question is :
Can we really do it?
For many years people have seen the agro industrial
sector in a despective way.Instead , the importation of different
issues in DR is the common thread.For example , you could see a lot of
business importing oil and tires one by the side of the other but not a
big complex in charge of exportation of agro industrial items..
First of all we need to identify the areas in DR for proper agriculture:
Map of the Agricultural Regions of Dominican Republic
This map shows the top food and other agricultural commodities produced in the Dominican Republic in 2008.
From
the tonnage standpoint, sugarcane is, by far, the main agricultural
product, with 4.8 million metric tons per year. From the value stand
point, chicken, beef, and cow’s milk rank first, second, and third
respectively
We need to check some of our main agro produce as well, for example:
But
we haven't consider a lot of our produce to be exported to exotic
destinations as well:sugar, distilleries produces, cassava ,swine packed
produces, the eggs and poultry produces,vegetable oil
,etc, etc..
People don't realize how lucky were are to have in
front of us USA the biggest consumer in the world..And we barely see
Dominican agro industrial produce in the market.
Another issue
into consideration are the proper institutions that can support some of
that exportation and productions and can give the proper orientations as
well.I will name a few:
Asociación de Porcicultores del Cibao
,Consejo Estatal del Azucar, Centro de Desarrollo Agropecuario y
Forestal ,Centro de Orientación, Apoyo yPromoción a la Inversión
,Instituto Interamericano de Cooperación para la Agricultura ,Instituto
de Estabilización de Precios ,Junta
Agroempresarial Dominicana
,Secretaría de Estado deAgricultura ,Centro de Orientación, Apoyo y
Promoción a la Inversión , etc, etc..
National exports, not
including free zones, jumped 44% between January and February compared
with the same period in 2012, Dominican Republic Export and Investment
Center (CEI-RD) director Jean Alain Rodriguez affirmed
He said
exports in the first two months in 2012 were US$390 million, climbing to
US$560 million this year, or US$170 million more.
“Dominican exports
continue to grow thanks to the different mechanisms implemented by
president Danilo Medina, in support of small and medium enterprises,
which have boosted this sector,” the official said, and announced the
Dominican Agribusiness Board’s (JAD)
The number of countries to which organic produce is exported has been
increasing steadily. During the year 2000, products were exported to at
least 21 countries in the Caribbean, North America, Europe and Asia.
Over 80 percent of the produce was exported to Europe. The main markets
by volume were the United Kingdom and Belgium followed by the United
States, Germany, the Netherlands and Italy in decreasing order
The potential for increased production of all crops and diversification
is enormous. Indeed, there is already a trend to increase the product
range. The growing domestic market as well as regional markets provide
some potential particularly for vegetables. Indeed, it is envisaged that
in the short term, expansion of organic production will track global
trends in demand. Thus 5-10 percent growth is projected annually. Some
of the major challenges concern production. These include production of
sufficient product of high quality to satisfy demand, technical support
for farmers, provision of affordable credit, suitable shipping schedules
and growing competition
Toward the middle of this decade DR we will see an increase of the export for several
reasons: acceleration in the pace of globalization and trade
liberation and new market access, but that will require more domestic
support commitment by Danilo's government as well.
Our expectations are high.The opportunities are endless..When there is a will, there is a way..
