Senator Franklin Romero Proposes Law to Protect Dominican Rice Production

A senator has proposed a law to shield the Dominican rice sector and give producers more stability. Here is what the initiative includes.

Senator Franklin Romero, for the Duarte province, submitted to the Senate the Law for the Protection and Promotion of National Rice Production in the Dominican Republic. The proposal seeks to create a legal framework to preserve, strengthen, and ensure the sustainability of one of the country's main agricultural sectors.

The bill was sent to the Senate's Permanent Committee on Agricultural and Agro-industrial Affairs and has the signature of nearly all senators.

The bill establishes that its interpretation and application will be guided by principles such as food security, environmental sustainability, productivity and competitiveness, equity for small and medium producers, transparency, and efficient public spending.

Romero also proposes creating the National Rice Competitiveness Program, to be coordinated by the Ministry of Agriculture. Its goals include raising productivity, reducing production costs, improving the quality of domestic rice, promoting innovation, and cutting losses during harvest, transport, and storage. It also seeks to improve producers' access to financing, agricultural insurance, and marketing services.

The proposal comes amid concern over the sector's future following the repeal of Decree No. 693-24, which had set tariff measures to protect domestic production from imports. The lawmaker considers it necessary to have legislation that provides greater stability and legal security for Dominican producers.

Romero has stressed the importance of establishing permanent protection mechanisms that allow farmers to plan their harvests, keep their operations profitable, and continue supplying the national market.