Santiago.- Former President of the Republic, Leonel Fernández, questioned the government’s policy regarding the increase in chicken prices and the sustained growth of agricultural imports, warning that these measures are directly affecting the national productive sector.
Fernández assured that, contrary to stabilizing prices, the increase in imports has caused distortions in the domestic market, favoring certain commercial sectors, while harming local producers.
According to their statements, agricultural imports have more than doubled compared to 2020, going from about 3 billion dollars to more than 7 billion according to their data.
“If we are importing products that can be perfectly produced in the country, what we are doing is benefiting one sector and harming another. And the harmed sector is the one that should never be: the national productive sector,” said the former president.
Fernández also referred to the direct impact this situation has on consumers’ pockets, noting that a pound of chicken is currently being sold for up to 125 pesos, a price he described as high for Dominican families.
In that context, he maintained that a government must clearly define its priorities and support domestic production as a way to guarantee price stability, job creation, and food security.
“A responsible government has to support the national producer,” he emphasized.
The political leader specifically mentioned the poultry producers of Licey al Medio, Moca and Santiago, as well as pork producers, ranchers and milk producers, sectors that he said need state support instead of competing on unequal terms with imported products.
The statements were offered during a meeting with journalists from Santiago, in which Fernández addressed various issues of the national economic situation, emphasizing the effect of import policies on the cost of food and the sustainability of the Dominican countryside.
