Challenges in rice production mark the agricultural balance of the first semester of 2026
The Dominican agricultural sector showed mixed results during the first half of 2026. According to official figures, rice production, a staple food on the Dominican table, experienced a 10.5% contraction between January and June, standing as one of the items with the greatest negative impact in the analyzed period.
General behavior of cereals
The downward trend was not exclusive to rice, but generally affected the cereal segment. Total production in this category reached 365,852.6 metric tons, which represents a 9.4% decrease compared to the same period of the previous year.
Growth in other agricultural sectors
Despite the challenges in cereal production, other agricultural sectors showed dynamic and positive performance during the first six months of the year:
- Legumes: This category, which includes beans, pigeon peas, and lentils, recorded an increase of 12.5%, reaching a production of 66,750.5 metric tons.
- Vegetables: With a volume of 942,951.4 metric tons, the sector achieved a growth of 8.8%.
- Fruits: This was one of the most prominent categories, with a production of 3,099,395.6 metric tons, marking an increase of 8.7% compared to the previous year.
The agricultural sector remains a strategic pillar for the national economy, contributing 5.6% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and being a vital source of employment, representing 8.8% of the country’s workforce.
Currently, the country has a registry of approximately 260,000 producers, of which 81% are classified as small producers. This productive base is fundamental, considering that agriculture represents 11.8% of the total exports of the Dominican Republic, reaffirming its relevance to economic stability and food security.
