The mechanization of the agriculture and the adoption of new Technologies that allow the automation of their work requires key strategies, such as the increase in public and private investment in the investigationas well as facilitate access to financing.
For the specialist in economy Agricultural of the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Development (MEPYD) Javier TavárezDominican agriculture is one of the main economic activities of the country, representing 5.6 % of the gross domestic product (GDP) and with an annual growth rate of 4 %.
This translates into an important contribution through Exports agricultural – which represent 23 % of what is marketed in other markets -, the generation of jobs – with more than 360,000 people busy, being the fourth employer sector – and the performance – with more than 50 % of the crops generating dynamic profits for the producers.
Despite this performance, the agricultural sector faces numerous challenges to carry the innovation to the fieldsaid the specialist, invited by the Dominican agro -representative Board to be the main speaker in the agricultural dialogue “let’s talk about innovation“, an event that seeks to encourage Farmers to invest in new Technologies.
“In the modern context, talking about innovation in the agricultural sector is no longer just talking about increase in production. We must talk about productivity, we must talk about making a change with the environment and we must talk about better food security,”MEPYD agricultural economy specialist.
Some of these challenges are:
- The gap digital in rural areas, with a lack of access to Technologies Digital and adequate infrastructure
- Resistance to change of the Farmers traditional, which produce under the same methods for decades
- The high initial costs of Technologies advanced – only a DRON DJI AGRAS T50 can cost up to $ 25,000–, which makes it a little accessible tool for little ones producers
- Lack of awareness on the benefits of innovation
To this is added that most of the production It is done in units small agricultural, worked for Farmers whose age ranges between 35 and 60 years.
“80 % of all units productive that rose in the prerenso of 2015 establish that the Dominican Republic has units Between 60 and 70 land tasks (…), they are very small. Yes Technologies They are small, there is a natural limitation to the application of economies of scale and certain technological innovations that involve large extensions of land, “Tavárez observed.
How to implement the innovation?
Therefore, Tavárez considers that investment in investigation and development as an important part of carrying the innovation to the fieldto know what strategies and tools would be more suitable according to the current context of the agricultural sector Dominican.
It also considers that they must be implemented policies public of access and technological transfer.
“Access to these Technologies is usually very expensive; If there was a channel, or a special chapter within the agricultural cabinet that is dedicated to making them more accessible, – that the Ministry of Agriculture, for example, facilitates access, knowledge and training in these tools – we can have better results, “said the expert.
Also, it is necessary to expand the credits to the producersso that they can acquire these new tools and increase, both productivity of his crops, such as his competitiveness.
Finally, Tavárez pointed out the importance of promoting collaboration Among the Farmersresearchers and private sector around aspects such as innovation Agroindustrial in the country.
“In the modern context, talk about innovation in it agricultural sector It is no longer just talking about increasing production. You have to talk about productivityyou have to talk about doing a change With the environment and you have to talk about better food security, “he recalled.
