San Juan Province
'Granary of the South' - 90% of national beans, 84% peanuts, 31% corn; San Juan Valley is DR's largest intramontane valley; Pico Duarte ecotourism.
San Juan Province earned its title 'Granero del Sur' (Granary of the South) by producing over 90% of the beans, 84% of the peanuts, 31% of the corn, 35% of the pigeon peas, and 36% of the sweet potatoes consumed by Dominicans. The San Juan Valley—the country's most extensive intramontane valley—and irrigation from the San Juan River and Sabaneta Dam enable grain and legume production that feeds the nation. Rice production averaged 585,000 quintals annually between 2007-2014.
San Juan de la Maguana, the provincial capital, anchors a diversified agricultural economy. Dairy farming has expanded rapidly, with local production of cheese and yogurt. Ecotourism potential exists around Pico Duarte (the Caribbean's highest peak, which extends into San Juan), the valley's scenic expanse, and multiple dams including Sabaneta, Sabana Yegua, and Palomino. USAID's Resilient Agriculture Activity works with farmers to reduce chemical fertilizer dependency as costs rise and climate variability intensifies.
By 2026, San Juan will test whether the granary can modernize without losing productivity. If organic and sustainable practices spread through cooperative networks and irrigation infrastructure holds, the province could maintain food security leadership while improving farmer incomes. If water scarcity worsens or youth migration depletes farm labor, the valley that feeds the south may struggle to feed itself.