Guantanamo.-The municipality of El Salvador has been chosen to participate in a national agricultural development study, underscoring its significant potential in farming and production. This decision was formalized under Decree 143 by the Council of Ministers, recognizing key attributes such as fertile soil, productive contribution, and ample flat terrain equipped with reliable irrigation and mechanization capabilities.
Strategically located near Guantánamo, the province’s population center, El Salvador offers advantages including water storage facilities and high soil fertility. These factors collectively position the municipality as an ideal pilot site to enhance agricultural output and marketing strategies at the national level.
Experts from the Ministry of Agriculture alongside provincial delegates are actively collaborating with local authorities to streamline the production chain. Their efforts encompass contracting harvests with all local producers and establishing a robust marketing network aimed at ensuring consistent municipal supply, bolstering food sovereignty, and promoting nutritional education among residents.
A significant component of this initiative involves developing tailored planting strategies, particularly for crops like beans. Specialists advise against year-round cultivation of beans due to prevalent pest and disease issues, advocating instead for optimized planting schedules and improved storage techniques.
According to Céspedes Lobaina Arias, deputy delegate of Agriculture for the province, the project’s ultimate objective is to secure a stable supply of agricultural products for markets, small retail outlets, and vulnerable populations, including pregnant women.
Additionally, the program seeks to enhance the commercial infrastructure by upgrading sales points and formalizing the status of cart drivers who currently partake in unauthorized agricultural trade, thus improving the overall efficiency and legality of the marketplace.
