Farming Sector

The farming sector has always been considered povitrol to the Dominican economy. It is fitting to emphasize, nevertheless, that its percentage participation within the GDP has diminished notably since the 1970's when it represented more than 20% of national production. Today, although this sector continues to be very important to the DR, sectors like tourism, free trade zones, remittances, and telecommunication have grown to carry a greater weight in the GDP. In 2005, for example, the farming sector represented approximately 11.5% of GDP.

Within the farming sector, agricultural production is the most significant line of production and holds greatest weight in the domestic economy. Sugar cane, tobacco, coffee, rice, corn, and cocoa, are the DR's most significant agricultural products.

The following graph shows the trends followed by the main agricultural sectors, livestock, and forestry/fishing according to its impact on the Dominican GDP. At the start of the 1970's, the agriculture sector represented 16% of national production. By the year 2004 this had reduced to about 5%. The livestock sector has maintained a relatively stable participation within the GDP, representing about 7% of national production over the past 35 years. In turn, the forestry and fishing sectors have not had historically significant impact on the Dominican economy.

The decreased importance of agriculture to national economic production is due, among others things, to an increase in the tourism sector and free trade zones.

 Table 3 – Historic Trends of Principal Agricultural Production Lines (1970-2005) – Blue: Farming – Red: Livestock – Yellow: Forestry/Fishing – Source: Central Bank of the Dominican Republic