P.R. Laws tit. 5, § 55d
To carry out the purposes of §§ 55a—55h of this title, the Secretary of Agriculture shall have the following powers:
(1) To acquire foodstuffs produced in Puerto Rico for the purpose of avoiding price fluctuations at level [sic] with those of the farm that may result onerous to the farmer and in any other circumstances which might threaten the order and stability in the marketing of said products.
(2) To guarantee reasonable minimum prices for foodstuffs, whether in a general manner or by regions, zones or groups of farmers. In cases where it is feasible and advisable, the warranty could be conditioned to production quotas by seasons and quantities.
(3) To enter into contracts or make agreements with natural or juridical persons, public or private, within or [outside of] Puerto Rico for the distribution and manufacturing or marketing of the foodstuffs he may acquire; Provided, That the marketing function shall, preferably, be made by cooperative associations or farmers’ associations already established or that hereafter may be established.
(4) To acquire in any legal manner and to use, own, administer, let or lease, encumber, sell or otherwise dispose of any properties or any interest thereon, as may be necessary to carry out such purposes. He may likewise sell the foodstuffs he may acquire at cost or at a price less than the cost thereof.
(5) To borrow money and to establish and secure the payment of obligations thereof, by pledge, mortgage, or other encumbrance or combination thereof, over all or any one or any properties whatsoever, upon the previous authorization of the Governor.
(6) To accept services, donations and funds through subsidies, appropriations, advances, loans or other analogous benefits from federal, commonwealth and municipal government entities and from persons and private entities to carry out its purposes; and to enter into agreements with such government entities or persons or private entities for the use of such donations or funds.
(7) To promote and assist by any means the consumption of Puerto Rican foodstuffs.
(7a) To prepare, classify and pack foodstuff for the market through pay and/or in accordance with the regulation that the Secretary may establish.
(7b) To establish commercial/demonstrative-type farms by agreements with farmers to develop the increase of production of foodstuff in those sectors of Puerto Rico where the topographic conditions, types of soils, climatological factors, size of the productive units and the capability of the farmers permit the creation of exemplary units of production. As inducement in such cases there may be granted to the farmers who operate such farms which are to be supervised by the Secretary of Agriculture, the cost or part of the cost of the necessary materials for the production or payment of a specific subsidy in money after the crop has been gathered, as specified in the agreement executed.
(8) To adopt, amend and repeal norms, rules and regulations that he may consider necessary to enforce the powers and duties vested in and imposed on him by §§ 55a—55h of this title.
(9) To transfer funds and resources with the approval of the Governor or the officer on whom he may delegate, to other agencies or instrumentalities of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to carry out specific phases or activities of the program established by §§ 55a—55h of this title, when in his judgment such action expedites or accelerates the achievement of the objectives pursued.
(10) To carry out such other acts necessary, incidental or convenient for the achievement of the purposes of §§ 55a—55h of this title.
History —Dec. 9, 1966, No. 9, p. 46, § 3; May 30, 1970, No. 66, p. 177.