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Dominican Republic: results are up

07/05/2018

2018 Season
François-Xavier Branthôme
Dominican Republic,
Central America
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Local Dominican press sources announced at the end of April that the 2018 season had produced a crop of slightly more than 258 400 metric tonnes (5.7 million Dominican quintals) of tomatoes for processing, for a value of 1.22 billion Dominican pesos (DOP) (approximately USD 24.6 million or EUR 20.55 million) (or approximately DOP 4 720, USD 95 or EUR 79 per tonne). This result is 17% higher than last year. These quantities were processed into tomato paste and other commonly consumed products. 
 
According to Jose Jáquez, the vice president of the Transagrícola Dominicana company, which is part of the Association of Conservas del Agro (Afconagro), the crop was produced by 3 800 growers this year. 85% of this volume was grown in the province of Azua (in the South of the country), and 15% in the provinces of Valverde and Monte Christi (in the North). Jose Jáquez explained that the processing sector had agreed on a price for tomatoes before planting, which guaranteed a minimum income this year of the equivalent of USD 1 700 or EUR 1 420 per hectare (DOP 84 300 /ha), amounting to an average yield of 18 to 20 metric tonnes per hectare over a cropping season of 120 days. "For the production of processing tomatoes, a three-party model was set up, between the government, industry operators and growers in which processors committed themselves to finance 100% of the crops planted, and provide permanent technical support whilst guaranteeing a secure outlet."
The production of processing tomatoes has had to face whitefly infestations and the infections that they cause. An integrated pest management plan has also been set up to fight against the threat of thrips.

1 Dominican quintal = 45.359 kg

Source: hoy.com.do, primicias.com.do