Groups call for self-sufficiency amid cuts to federal farming programs

“Nutritional security is not just a dream; it is an urgent need that is possible to achieve, but only with the right support and investment,” said agronomist Alberto L. Vélez.

By The Star Staff

Mayors, farmers and representatives from the diaspora on Thursday called for concrete measures to enhance Puerto Rico’s food self-sufficiency as they voiced concerns over recent federal cuts to agricultural support programs.

“Puerto Rico imports nearly 90 percent of the food we consume,” Loíza Mayor Julia Nazario Fuentes said in a written statement. “Each federal cut increases our vulnerability. Not only are they reducing funds, but they are also failing to provide us with the tools necessary to grow our own food.”

The mayor called on Gov. Jenniffer González Colón and Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández Rivera to press for the release of the allocated funds, emphasizing that the demands have been expressed both in Washington and on the island.

One of the most significant cuts includes the elimination of $65 million in federal agricultural funds that previously supported small farmers, including micro-coffee growers. The affected farms have struggled to cover their expenses, having relied on expectations of reimbursement.

“Nutritional security is not just a dream; it is an urgent need that is possible to achieve, but only with the right support and investment,” said agronomist Alberto L. Vélez, who highlighted local initiatives like seed vending machines to promote home gardening.

“What we are doing in Chicago demonstrates that with the right tools, food can be grown with dignity in our communities,” said José López, executive director of the Puerto Rican Cultural Center in Chicago.

“The Board is stifling the municipalities,” said Jorge González Otero, mayor of Jayuya and president of the Mayors Association, referring to the Financial Oversight and Management Board’s impact on local efforts to ensure food security.

“Hunger does not wait. Achieving food self-sufficiency is crucial to address these cuts and secure the future for our people,” stressed Moisés Reyes, president of the AgroComercial cooperative, where the event was held.

Also attending the conference were Jesús Resto, mayor of Ciales; Johanna López, a state representative from Florida; and Federico de Jesús Febles from the Puerto Rican Cultural Center in Washington, D.C.