Government launches Pronamec to modernize the Dominican countryside and reduce costs
President Luis Abinader officially launched the National Mechanization Program (Pronamec) in San Juan, a strategic initiative that marks a turning point for national agriculture. The project’s central objective is to optimize production processes, improve the sector’s competitiveness, and reduce dependence on foreign labor through the adoption of cutting-edge technologies.
We have to support producers across the country to gradually mechanize their work; it is more economical and less complex.
Luis Abinader, President of the Republic
Technology at the service of the producer
Pronamec proposes a comprehensive transformation that ranges from land preparation and mechanized sowing to advanced crop management and post-harvest processes. As detailed by the Minister of Agriculture, Francisco Oliverio Espaillat Bencosme, the goal is clear: to turn the countryside into a more efficient space where small producers have access to tools that multiply their operational capacity.
- Rice, corn, sorghum, and beans: It is projected to mechanize up to 90% of their production process.
- Plantain and banana: The mechanization goal is set at 60% due to the complexity of these crops.
- Economic impact: Agriculture currently contributes 5.6% of the national GDP, representing a vital engine for employment and exports.
Implementation and financing phases
With an initial investment exceeding RD 200 million, the program will be executed in three fundamental stages:
- First stage: Mechanization Demonstration Plots were established in key areas such as San Juan, Valverde, La Vega, Constanza, and Arenoso to train producers.
- Second stage: Access to equipment will be facilitated through flexible financing via the Agricultural Bank, Bandex, and private banks, while also promoting cooperativism to reduce costs.
- Third stage: Consists of nationwide expansion, strengthening the machinery service infrastructure of the Ministry of Agriculture.
The project has the technical support of organizations such as the World Bank and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA). With this measure, the Government reaffirms its commitment to food security, betting on a modern production model that guarantees the sovereignty and sustainable development of Dominican producers.
