House Speaker Proposes Sweeping Overhaul of Agriculture Department
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.
- 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. 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. The legislation aims to create a more competitive and economically sustainable agricultural sector capable of generating jobs, attracting investment, and increasing local food production.
Key provisions include:
- A plan to preserve high-value agricultural lands through the establishment of agricultural reserves, conservation easements, and other legal protections.
- Streamlined operations at the Department of Agriculture and greater support for farmers.
- Reduced red tape, encouragement of investment, protection of agricultural land, and creation of new opportunities for Puerto Rican agricultural products.
- Promotion of agricultural education at an early age, strengthening youth organizations such as 4-H Clubs and Future Farmers of America, and expanded collaboration among the Agriculture and Education departments and the University of Puerto Rico.
- Advancements in scientific and technological research, precision agriculture, and digitalization efforts.
Economically, the package includes:
- Restoration of a tax credit equal to 50% of eligible agricultural investments, capped at $350,000 annually per exempt business.
- Allocation of $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. The initiative sets a goal of having 30% of the Department of Education’s food purchases sourced from local agricultural producers by 2030 through the “Farm to School” initiative.
The legislation also addresses labor issues in the agricultural sector by proposing phased increases to the minimum wage for farmworkers and formal recognition of workers’ rights to rest periods. Eligible bona fide farmers would receive a government wage subsidy equivalent to 50% of the federal minimum wage per hour.
Changes to public assistance eligibility rules would ensure that farmworkers’ income would not be counted against eligibility for certain nutritional assistance and health programs.