INFOTEP Director affirms that training is key to agricultural sustainability

Santo Domingo. – The general director of the National Institute of Technical Professional Training (INFOTEP), Rafael Santos Badía, stated that agriculture is one of the activities that has its permanence assured within the framework of the fourth industrial revolution, and highlighted that technical training and specialized training are pillars to guarantee its sustainability and competitiveness.

“In INFOTEP's approach, it is very clear that we must support agricultural producers, mechanization, and training. And if value is added to each of these three pillars, training becomes fundamental to survive in a changing world and in a geopolitics that we cannot ignore,” said Santos Badía when opening the Agro Gestión 360: Reasons for Success and Opportunities panel.

The director of INFOTEP emphasized that the institution has found a strategic ally in the Center for Environmental Education and Agriculture (CEMAAGRI).

"What this COS does, which will be extended to other diplomas, is to help you, the producers, improve your management capacity and guarantee the quality and quantity demanded by current markets," he said.

For his part, Ramón Castillo Echavarría, director of CEMAAGRI, highlighted the origin of this initiative, which arose after the conclusion of the diploma in Administrative Management of the Agricultural Company, developed together with INFOTEP.

“With Agro Gestión 360 we seek to share experiences, reasons for success and new opportunities with the administrative management of agricultural companies, to promote a more efficient, sustainable and profitable development, through an integral vision of the sector”, he indicated.

The event featured the participation of renowned entrepreneurs and agricultural producers from the country, who shared their experiences and contributions to the strengthening of the sector.

You can also read: INFOTEP will hold a discussion on solid waste in Bonao

Among them was engineer Luis Zoquier, agricultural manager of La Famosa, with more than 30 years of experience in the production of industrial tomatoes and other areas, establishing himself as a reference in the field. Also participated engineer Wilson Roa, agricultural manager of CAEI (Vicini Group), who has two decades of experience in the sugar industry, standing out for his leadership in innovation and sustainability processes. Also, engineer Oliverio Espaillat, considered the largest rice producer in the country, with more than 35 years in the sector, contributed his knowledge. Espaillat is also a facilitator of CEMAAGRI in the mechanization of rice cultivation, contributing to the modernization of the Dominican countryside. The panelist list included Mr. Guillermo Contreras, president of Dot Fruit, the main producer and exporter of mangoes in the Dominican Republic, who has over 24 years of experience in the international market, strengthening the presence of Dominican products abroad. Together, the panelists have over 100 years of experience in national agricultural production, which allowed attendees to access valuable insights on management, innovation, and sustainability. The panel brought together managers, technicians, producers, officials, and representatives of organizations linked to the sector, including the first graduates of the diplomas taught by CEMAAGRI and INFOTEP.