The Dominican Government through the Ministry of Agriculture and the Special Fund for Agricultural Development (FEDA) contributed more than 130 million pesos for the construction and equipping of a modern hydrothermal treatment plant to the Banileja Association of Mango Producers (ABAPROMANGO) with the objective of doubling fruit exports next year.
The agreement signed by Minister Osmar Benitez and the president of Abapromango, Onesimo Mejia, aims to double exports next year and gradually increase the volume of shipments mainly to the United States market.
Benitez said that the first disbursement, which amounted to 15,744,000 pesos, would be used for the acquisition of equipment and that producers would be given 2 hectares of land of the State for the construction of the building that will house the most modern plant in the country and in the Caribbean.
In addition, they will be given a line of financing through the FEDA for 57 million pesos to start the construction, and a contribution of nearly 10,300,000 pesos through the Prorural program to improve the productivity of the fruit.
"We are disbursing a first contribution for the equipment of the plant which will allow doubling mango exports in the short term and achieve a greater income to the national economy. In addition this support of the Dominican State to mango producers guarantees they'll have access to markets and that farmers will have greater benefits," said Minister Benitez.
The minister said that the Ministry of Agriculture had left a health management program to eliminate pests and increase the supply of this fruit in operation since last May.
He also said that the proposal for the construction of the plant was approved by the United States Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), which will allow them to increase mango exports to the United States and other markets.
Source: elnuevodiario.com.do