Government Highlights Farm Investment and Rice Sector Support at Honor Medal Ceremony

President Abinader led the award of the XXXV Medal of Honor, as farmers recognize official backing for the Dominican countryside.

President Luis Abinader led the presentation of the XXXV Medal of Honor, an award organized by the Dominican Association of Landowners and Farmers (ADHA) to men and women whose work drives productivity, innovation and sustainability in the countryside.

During the ceremony, ADHA president Jonathan Rivera highlighted government support for the farm sector. He said the Banco Agrícola disbursed more than RD$25,000 million in 2025, financing over 19,000 producers.

Rivera also welcomed the 2026 reactivation of the fertilizer subsidy, with an investment above RD$2,000 million, to cushion the international rise in farm input prices. He also cited efforts to contain oil price increases, which amounted to RD$11,000 million in 2025 and, he said, exceeded RD$40,000 million so far in 2026. He added investments of more than RD$200 million in machinery to mechanize the countryside, along with road and rural track works.

On rice, a staple of the Dominican basic food basket, Rivera expressed confidence in the efforts led by President Abinader to address international trade commitments and protect domestic production.

For his part, Agriculture Minister Francisco Oliverio Espaillat said that behind every harvest, productive farm and agro-industry there is effort, sacrifice and perseverance, and reaffirmed the government's commitment to promoting efficiency, technological innovation and generational renewal in Dominican agriculture.