On Monday, President Luis Abinader signed an agreement with poultry producers aimed at reducing the price of chicken.
During the signing of a pact between public institutions and the agricultural sectors, the President stated that the above-mentioned agreement launches an ambitious food security plan that guarantees food at affordable prices and available to all citizens of the country.
“We promise the producers that, through direct commitments, they will sell to the Government, through Inespre, four million pounds of chicken at 50 pesos per kilogram; In turn, Inere agrees to sell a whole chicken at 125 pesos per unit. through mobile warehouses, own spaces, headquarters of the Ministry of Agriculture and the location of refrigerated containers in strategic places “, said the president.
The agreement also involves chicken processing plants to provide the National Institute for Price Stabilization (Inespre) with refrigerated trucks to transport meat where needed, so that there is supply in all areas of the country.
“In the conversation with Minister Limber, all this logistics will be applied from Wednesday so that on that day it can be bought in most of the country and gradually everything at the price we arranged ”, added Abinader.
Further, work will be done to establish a strategic reserve of two million pounds of chicken to ensure supply and price stability through a pledge program whose costs will be funded by the ministry of agriculture, the president added.
Also, The pact includes the Ministry of Agriculture and the Agricultural Bank working to expand maize production in order to expand the national supply and save foreign exchange.. While producers agree to buy zero-funded cereals from the aforementioned bank.
Luis Abinader also assured that this agreement is just the beginning of everything he will do with the national agricultural industry, through which they try to guarantee low prices for the population through dialogue and agreements with producers.
Full speech by President Luis Abinader
Friends and friends,
Sometimes they have heard me say that this new government is dealing with urgency, but that it does not neglect for a minute what is important.
For too long, in a society, we have been aware of the country’s problems, we have analyzed them and they have been put on the table several times. But it was not until now, with the advent of this new government, that we began to offer real solutions to these historical problems.
In this meeting and with this agreement, we concretize two very important things: one, that we offer feasible solutions and two, that we do it hand in hand and in dialogue with the sectors involved.
Because friends, there is no long-term solution if it does not have the support and backing of everyone involved. It is the responsibility of this government or any government to arbitrate the various interests that arise in each sector.
The government must ensure that food is accessible to the population, but this is not done through a decree, but through interaction with producers to eliminate inefficiencies, short-term speculation in intermediation and to promote productivity and competitiveness.
So, allow me, at this moment, to thank you all for your effort, generosity and vision of the country.
The agreement we are signing today seals a pact that directly affects the quality of life of millions of Dominicans. It affects their safety, future and well-being.
Through this pact we launch an ambitious food safety plan that guarantees affordable prices for chickens, which are available to all citizens of our country.
And we do it by touching all possible axes to guarantee the success and long-term sustainability of this action.
We promise the producers that, through direct commitments, they will sell to the government through INESPRE 4 million pounds of chicken at 50 pesos per kilogram.
In turn, INESPRE undertakes to implement an entire program for the sale of chicken at 125 pesos per unit, through mobile warehouses, its own headquarters, the headquarters of the Ministry of Agriculture and the placement of refrigerated containers in strategic places.
We also involve chicken processing plants that are committed to this broad agreement to facilitate and supply a fleet of refrigerated trucks to reach the places where INESPRE requires it, so that there is supply in all provinces of the country.
In addition, the government and producers will work to establish a strategic reserve of 2 million pounds of chicken, to ensure supply and price stability through a pledge program whose cost will be borne by the Ministry of Agriculture.
And finally, I want to emphasize, as an important part of this agreement, that the Ministry of Agriculture and the Agricultural Bank will also pursue an intense agenda that will allow, among other things, agreements with feed processing companies. to execute a corn planting program and sorghum to expand the supply of domestically produced inputs, while saving foreign exchange.
And it should be noted at this time, that Animal producers undertake to purchase domestic production of these grains at a guaranteed price to be agreed between the parties, and the Ministry of Agriculture will provide services for the preparation of soil and high-yield seeds. as well as the necessary financing through Banco Agrícola.
As I indicated at the beginning of my speech, the consensual agreement we are presenting to you today guarantees a complete plan of action in this important sector. But this agreement is just the beginning of what we will do in all sectors of national agriculture: to guarantee affordable prices by concluding agreements with national producers.
In each case, it will be well designed and studied so that the solution to these inherited problems is finally put to an end.
Food security is a fundamental element for the healthy development of a nation.
The Dominican Republic, with its government at the helm, is aware that nothing will make sense in our government action if the basics are not covered. And feeding the Dominican people is at the forefront of this government’s responsibilities.
That is why this agreement is so important. Because it is urgent and because it is important.
Congratulations. Thank you all and may God bless the Dominican people.