Medina announces RD$300M project to reforest with coffee

Guayubín, Dominican Republic.- President Danilo Medina onSunday made a surprise visit to coffee producers at Loma de Soliman, inGuayubín, Montecristi (northwest), whose plantations were decimated by blightsand drought.

Gowers associations of Guayubín requested a loan to replantmore than 300 hectares with coffee resistant to pests, after plantations atLoma de Soliman were devastated by rust and other diseases, in addition to themonths-long drought that cut production from nearly 1,000 tons to just lessthan 100.

Prior to Medina’s visit, farmers had asked the Government’sagro development fund (FEDA) financing to replant the lands affected and also tobuy machinery and to support a project to produce organic fertilizer, to recouplosses and improve income.

After hearing the producers, Medina ordered a redesign of theproject that would cost around RD$300 million.

"The government will assume the reforestation of asmuch land as possible," said Medina, who announced construction of anursery for seedlings of coffee plants that resist diseases.