The Puerto Rico Department of Agriculture (Spanish: Departamento de Agricultura) is one of the few Cabinet-level government agencies explicitly created by the Constitution of Puerto Rico[1] as the Department of "Agriculture and Commerce", most of the commerce at the time of its enactment being agriculture-based. The DAC oversees rural development work and conservation and is headed by a cabinet secretary. The current secretary is Ramón González Beiró who was confirmed in May 2021.[2]
History
Prior to the Constitution, according to law 60 of April 25, 1940,[3] it was known as Department of Agriculture. The most recent reorganization of government responsibilities concerning the department come from Law No. 4 of 2010.[4]
The purpose of DAPR is to:
Support agricultural production, commercial fishing, and aquaculture to ensure fair prices and stable markets for producers and consumers;
Work to improve and maintain farm income; and
Help to develop and expand markets abroad for agricultural products.
Activities
Puerto Rico Department of Agriculture building in Santurce, San Juan
DAPR administers rural development, credit, and conservation programs that are designed to implement national growth policies, and it conducts scientific and technological research in all areas of agriculture. Through its inspection and grading services, DAPR ensures standards of quality in food offered for sale.
Throughout the years, the department's name has been modified, as well as its structure, but today remains a separate structure with additional agencies and public corporations as part of the Department of Agriculture "umbrella".
