Pro Consumidor states that a pound of chicken remains between RD$79 and RD$84

The executive director of the National Institute for Consumer Rights Protection (Pro Consumidor), Eddy Alcántara, rejected the allegations from the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) regarding the impact of chicken imports on domestic producers and assured that the price per pound of that meat has remained between RD$79 and RD$84 over the last ten months in markets and supermarkets in Santo Domingo.

Alcántara maintained that the Government has not carried out massive imports of chicken meat, as the opposition organization denounced, and stated that this year has seen the fewest white meat import permits issued by the Ministry of Agriculture.

“It is not true that there is a massive importation. This year has been the year in which the fewest white meat import permits have been issued by the Ministry of Agriculture,” stated the official, who invited [the public] to consult the data with the Minister of Agriculture.

The head of Pro Consumidor attributed the situation facing the poultry sector to a national overproduction and pointed out that the Government has had to invest resources to protect producers through the pledging mechanism, which allows for supporting the commercialization of production.

“What there is, is an overproduction in the country, supported by the President of the Republic, which has caused the Government to have to invest to protect producers and pledge a large amount of white meat,” he stated.

Alcántara assured that the mechanism constitutes a guarantee for poultry farmers, by allowing them to have support for their production and reduce the risk of losses.

PLD reports losses for producers

The official’s statements come after the PLD warned of a crisis in the national poultry sector, denouncing that small and medium-sized producers are selling below their production costs, while consumers continue to pay high prices for the food.

The PLD Secretary of Agricultural Affairs, Adriano Sánchez Roa, stated that the price of a pound of live chicken at the farm dropped from approximately RD$45 to less than RD$32 in six weeks, compared to an estimated production cost of RD$41.20 per pound.

According to the figures presented by the party, that difference represents losses of nearly RD$11 for every pound sold. The organization also warned that more than 1.5 million chickens remained without a commercial outlet on farms and questioned the increase in imports.

Faced with that complaint, Alcántara insisted that consumer prices have remained stable and assured that several basic food basket products have experienced reductions over the last two months.

“The costs of white meat have remained stable over the last 18 months and I can send you the comparison, and that is the reality,” he stated.

Guarantee chicken for Christmas

The executive director of Pro Consumidor assured that the country has sufficient chicken production to meet demand during the holiday season and maintained that the authorities are working to maintain market supply.

“There is enough chicken for Christmas, there is enough pork,” he/she expressed.

The official defended the free-market model applied in the country and pointed out that maintaining a supply that exceeds demand helps to avoid product shortages and favors competition.

Likewise, he considered that the opposition’s criticisms do not sufficiently take into account the economic difficulties faced by other countries due to international tensions and their effects on food prices.

Alcántara stated that the Dominican Republic has also experienced price increases in some products, but maintained that the authorities have managed to handle economic pressures without causing widespread shortages of basic food staples.

Finally, he insisted that the Government will continue to support national productive sectors and defended the measures adopted to maintain food supply and protect both producers and consumers.