Dominican tobacco producers demand limits on raw tobacco imports

Tobacco producers in the Dominican Republic are calling on the government to halt the importation of raw tobacco to protect the local industry. Growers report significant losses from recent harvests due to a drastic reduction in market prices and an accumulation of unsold products in warehouses.

Producers claim that the influx of lower-quality imported tobacco is directly competing with and undermining national production. This situation has created financial strain for many farmers who have taken loans through the Banco Agrícola and are now struggling to meet their commitments as a new planting cycle approaches.

The Partido de la Liberación Dominicana (PLD) has expressed solidarity with the affected producers, particularly in the northwest, Villa González, and Espaillat province. Affected communities include Navarrete, La Canela, La Vega, and Moca, among others. The growers emphasize that their demand is not intended to harm the export or manufacturing sectors, but rather to ensure the viability of local tobacco cultivation.