Alarm sounded on lack of legislative action on Bucarabones Valley Agricultural Reserve bill

A Bucarabones Valley scene. The creation of the Bucarabones Valley Agricultural Reserve in Toa Alta would allow local farmers to harvest enough food and vegetables to feed 250,000 people, in addition to managing livestock and other grazing animals, proponents say. (Zillow photo)

By The Star Staff

The Bucarabones Agricultural Reserve, intended to reserve a thousand acres of land for agricultural use and to promote local agricultural production, is at risk of not materializing due to the lack of legislative action, Ian Carlo Pagán Roig, an agronomist and spokesperson for the Proactive Community in Defense of the Bucarabones Valley, said Thursday.

Pagán Roig emphasized the importance of the project, and the legislation behind it, for the food security of Puerto Rico.

“Climate change has put at risk the ability of countries to supply themselves with food,” the agronomist said in a written statement. “Efforts like this prepare us to ensure the food supply for Puerto Ricans in the face of the various crises we face.”

He said House Bill 1731, introduced by Rep. Er Yazzer Morales Díaz and supported by farmers, residents and merchants, was unanimously approved in both legislative bodies. The House of Representatives approved the bill on June 24, 2023, and the Senate approved it with amendments on June 24, 2024, after receiving positive reports from the Senate Human Rights and Agriculture committees.

Despite the unanimous support, the amendments made by the Senate had to be ratified by the House in its last session on June 30. However, the House failed to act on the amendments, jeopardizing the effective implementation of the reserve project that would benefit the community by enhancing food security and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.

The creation of the Bucarabones Valley Agricultural Reserve in Toa Alta would allow local farmers to harvest enough food and vegetables to feed 250,000 people, in addition to managing livestock and other grazing animals. The project would not only promote local agricultural production, proponents say, but would also contribute to the protection of the environment and the promotion of sustainable practices.

“The only hope to save the project is for Governor Pedro Pierluisi to call an extraordinary session so that the House can ratify the amendments proposed by the Senate,” Pagán Roig said.

The Proactive Community in Defense of the Bucarabones Valley is calling on citizens and organizations committed to agriculture and sustainability in Puerto Rico to contact La Fortaleza and request the extraordinary session for House Bill 1731.