In one of the poorest and most marginalized regions of the Dominican Republic, tobacco has empowered women –and in doing so, has transformed the province’s economy, says Yina Estrella, operations manager at Tabacalera El Artista in San Juan de la Maguana, where 90% of the workforce is female.
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“At first, it was a little difficult, but now they tell me: ‘I’m not leaving here –not even if they kick me out!’ Because this job has changed their lives. Before, they walked everywhere; now, they ride their own motorcycles. They’ve been able to improve their families’ quality of life, pay for their children’s education, and put food on the table –without depending on anyone else.”
Yina explains that before, employment opportunities in this region were scarce and poorly paid. But the tobacco industry changed that, offering fair wages and better working conditions –a stark contrast to the pre-Plan San Juan era.
The initial team of trainers came from the famed Cibao valley. Adriana, Wendy, Rosa, Dahiana, and Marlenis began teaching the workforce from scratch, gradually working in groups of up to 25. “There were nine of us who started,” Yina says proudly, watching her colleagues de-stemming tobacco leaves.
After just six months of operations, the transformation in these women is visible –even physically. “They look more beautiful, and they radiate confidence. But beyond that, the local economy has changed, with indirect job creation and increased spending on goods and services. Seeing this fills me with immense satisfaction –their eagerness to learn and their gratitude toward this industry is incredible.”
Tabacalera El Artista was the first private company to acquire two industrial spaces in the Free Trade Zone launched by the government in September 2023. Currently, the facility employs 189 workers, with plans to expand to 300 in the medium term.
For now, operations focus on purchasing, fermenting, de-stemming, and aging tobacco –primarily Criollo 98, grown right in the San Juan valley.
