La Vega, Dominican Republic.- The head of the Agrarian Reform farmers grouped in CNPRA yesterday joined the voices opposed to mining for nickel at Loma Miranda, and warning that if it occurs, many of the farms in the Cibao valley are doomed to disappear, mostly those which require irrigation.

 Apolinar Germosén (Polin) said the around 40 sources that drain into the Camú and Jima rivers are needed to maintain the water volume to irrigate the thousands of hectares of corn and beans, especially the oriental varieties.

Quoted by hoy.com.do, the farm sector leader affirmed that quarry mining would seriously harm the aquifers, polluting them to be unfit for human consumption or even irrigation.

The head of the CNPRA, which includes associations of men and women farmers, added that mining would result in that dozens of rivers and streams will run out of water, leaving the systems of Rincon, Jima, Rancho Viejo, Ranchito, Junumucú, El Pino , Pontoon and other places without irrigation.

Xstrata press conference

While the debate pitting exploitation and the environment heats up, the Canadian based miner Xstrata-Falcondo announced a press conference for 10am in their offices in the sector Gazcue on Monday morning.