House speaker proposes sweeping overhaul of Agriculture Dept.
By THE STAR STAFF
Speaker of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives Carlos “Johnny” Méndez Nuñez unveiled a pair of measures on Thursday to overhaul the Puerto Rico Department of Agriculture and establish a new legal framework to modernize the island’s agricultural sector, reduce bureaucracy and encourage investment.
The legislative package includes a new charter law for the agency, replacing a 2010 reorganization plan, and a proposed Agricultural Modernization Code that would consolidate and update laws governing the industry.
Méndez described the initiative as the most significant transformation of the agency since its creation in 1917.
“The Department of Agriculture was created in December 1917 and, despite amendments over the years, its bureaucratic structure has largely remained the same,” Méndez said. “It is time to bring this agency into the third decade of the 21st century and provide the tools needed to actively promote agriculture in Puerto Rico.”
The proposed reforms seek to align government agricultural policy with current industry needs while emphasizing efficiency, accountability and the effective use of public resources. Méndez said the legislation is designed to create a more competitive and economically sustainable agricultural sector capable of generating jobs, attracting investment and increasing local food production.
Among the key provisions is a plan to preserve high-value agricultural lands through the establishment of agricultural reserves, conservation easements and other legal protections intended to safeguard productive farmland for future generations.
The initiative has received support from Agriculture Secretary Irving Rodríguez Torres and Rep. Joe “Joito” Colón Rodríguez, chairman of the House Agriculture Committee.
Rodríguez said the legislation is intended to streamline operations at the Department of Agriculture and provide greater support for farmers.
“We will always promote measures that foster a more agile Department of Agriculture, one that responds to the real needs of our farmers, facilitates their operations and gives them the tools to grow and compete,” Rodríguez said.
He added that the bills would reduce red tape, encourage investment, protect agricultural land and create new opportunities for Puerto Rican agricultural products.
Colón called the proposal “the largest change in the Department of Agriculture in the last 100 years.” He noted that the measures would promote agricultural education at an early age, strengthen youth organizations such as 4-H Clubs and Future Farmers of America, and expand collaboration among the Agriculture and Education departments and the University of Puerto Rico. The legislation also seeks to advance scientific and technological research, precision agriculture and digitalization efforts.
One of the package’s major economic incentives would restore a tax credit equal to 50% of eligible agricultural investments, capped at $350,000 annually per exempt business. The proposal also allocates $12 million per year in tax credits to encourage new agricultural investments.
The Agricultural Modernization Code would increase preferences for locally produced agricultural products in government purchasing programs. Through the “Farm to School” initiative, the measure sets a goal of having 30% of the Department of Education’s food purchases sourced from local agricultural producers by 2030.
The legislation also addresses labor issues in the agricultural sector by proposing phased increases to the minimum wage for farmworkers and formally recognizing workers’ rights to rest periods. In addition, eligible bona fide farmers would receive a government wage subsidy equivalent to 50% of the federal minimum wage per hour.
Lawmakers are also proposing changes to public assistance eligibility rules so that farmworkers’ income would not be counted against eligibility for certain nutritional assistance and health programs, a move intended to encourage employment rather than discourage agricultural work.
According to Department of Labor and Human Resources data from 2025, Puerto Rico’s agricultural sector directly employs about 13,000 people and supports more than 30,000 indirect jobs.
Other provisions would strengthen agricultural marketing initiatives by expanding the use of certification labels such as “Cosecha de Puerto Rico” (Harvested in Puerto Rico), “Crianza de Puerto Rico” (Raised in Puerto Rico), “Lácteo de Puerto Rico” (Dairy from Puerto Rico) and “Pesca de Puerto Rico” (Fish from Puerto Rico). Supporters say the labels would help consumers identify locally produced goods and lay the foundation for geographic-origin designations.
The proposed reforms would also expand access to capital through loans, guarantees, seed funding and other financial incentives for agricultural businesses, particularly small and midsize producers. The measures encourage the creation of agricultural marketing associations as a way to improve market access.
