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Agribusinessmen request the construction of dams to preserve water and strengthen production
Santo Domingo. – Dominican agribusiness leaders requested the authorities to build more dams and other water infrastructures, considering that the country needs to guarantee sufficient water for cultivation and human consumption, especially given the growth of agricultural demand.
During a meeting where two calls for proposals aimed at farmers to promote the modernization of irrigation and the efficient use of water were presented, the producers insisted that the Dominican Republic must expand its storage resources to better take advantage of its natural capacity and protect the vital liquid.
In that sense, agricultural producer and former Minister of Agriculture, Osmar Benítez, explained that the construction of dams is required mainly in the Eastern region, as well as new mechanisms for capturing and conservation in the North of the country, a key area due to its high level of production, including the cultivation of bananas.
The calls presented correspond to technical training programs for the national irrigation system and efficient water management, promoted by the Fund for the Promotion of Technical Training of the National Irrigation System and the Agricultural Bank, with the purpose of modernizing irrigation systems and strengthening productivity.
According to the data provided, the contest contemplates an investment exceeding 42.4 million pesos, aimed at promoting sustainable water management and reducing waste in agricultural processes.
For his part, Steven Valdera, project coordinator at Banco Agrícola, reported that the selected irrigation systems will receive incentives of up to 25% of the project value for initiatives covering between 500 and 2,000 tareas, while medium-sized producers, with projects of 100 to 500 tareas, may receive up to 35%.
The producers reiterated that access to water is vital to sustain the country’s food security and called for prioritizing public policies that allow for increasing national water infrastructure to face climate challenges and guarantee agricultural production.
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