Cultural Module Perception Analysis and Cultural Role of Agriculture by Carlos Segura and Karin Weyland

Economic and social processes link to Aagriculture Free Trade Export Zones. Our findings show direct links between Free Trade Export Zones and the emigration from the countryside to the cities, especially in the young population. Tourism. The development of the tourist industry has affected Dominican agriculture in various ways: there has been a considerable increase in the demand for agricultural products, services and exploitation of agricultural sceneries (rivers and mountains) and there has been new job alternatives for young people.

Haitian Labor Force. Our data show a hard discrimination towards Haitians. Despite this rejection, at the rural and urban sectors there is an acceptance of the presence of these migrants that solves the demand for cheap labor force in agriculture.

Dominican Agriculture and its Tensions Internal External Class Generational Small and medium Large producers First generation Second generation Polítical State Agriculture Ethic HaitiansDominican Opening Foreign competitiveness Frmers Sectorial Intermediaries Other sectors

Class Tensions. Our data show the existence of strong tensions between small, medium and large agricultural businesses, specially in the San José de Ocoa y Hato Mayor regions. Generational Tensions. There is a generation of country-men who despite a harsh life, low rentability and scarcity of services, continues to work on the land because this is what they have done all their lives and know how to do well, but they see the exit of their children who are not as attached to the land and do not value agricultural activities.

Sectorial Tensions. Storage, transportation and package limitations as well as organizational deficiencies in the commercialization of agricultural products forces producers to depend on private and public intermediaries that rarely satisfy their cost aspirations and pay schedule provoking tensions and conflicts. Tensions derived from the opening of the Dominican economy. The globalization of the economy which implies access to new markets with the risk of competing with agricultural systems much more competitive than ours is a subject of concern among producers.

Political Tensions. There are several tensions between producers and the state. The constant demand for support for credit, better prices for their products, technical support, and a better infrastructure, as well as the constant limitations from the part of the state to attend all these demands are the principle factors for these tensions. Ethnic Tensions. Despite the fact that urban and rural social actors deny the presence of interethnic conflicts, their discourse has a variety of elements that speak of conflictive relations between Dominicans and Haitians.

Conclusions The emergence of Free Trade Export Zones and tourism have provoked major changes in rural life, in particular in the development of new demand to satisfy the hotel industry, and new business and job opportunities, as well as in the increase of a Haitian labor force. Of all the multiple tensions that are lived out in the Dominican rural sector, the one that seems most serious in terms of the future of agriculture is the lack of interest from the part of the younger generations to stay in the country- side. Its solution lies in the political willingness to reorient public investment and create conditions that allow young people to plan their life in rural areas without sacrificing the possibilities of obtaining a salary and good services that are common in the city.

1.The discrimination and the lack of an organized migration have become mechanisms that help maintain the exploitation of Haitians. At the same time this situation delays the technological development of the rural sector. The ordaining of this migration, according to the needs of the rural sector, should be taken into account when planning the sector. 2.The rural sector has not yet taken advabtage of all the opportunities tourism offers. Public policies are needed to establish more direct ties between these two sector, includin more suport to producers to satisfy the market demands.

3.Without doubt, the number of people involved in agricultural activities will diminish in the next few years. With regards to the sustenability of the rural sector, much more than just a positive valorization is needed. For example, the decision to include agriculture among the major national priorities and understand it as one of the main pillars of a national development plan, accompanied by a true willingness to carry out this project, are necessary for its survival. The expnasion of programs that support youth in agriculture like the Forja project established by the Swiss Association for international cooperation could help to retain young people in the country-side. This program includes 360 hours of training in a Research Center, 6 months of assistantship in a farm, an introductory course on business management and the possibility of a small loan to start a small agricultural business.