Reactivación económica del sector agropecuario en la Región Central Oriental de Cartago del Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería (MAG) mediante la aplicación de la Ingeniería Agrícola en agricultura de precisión e innovación tecnológica en el programa nacional de alta tecnología para la reactivación económica del sector agropecuario (AGRINNOVACIÓN 4.0)

The small and medium-sized producers located in the Central Eastern Region of Cartago, defined by the MAG, like those in the rest of the country, are experiencing a sharp deterioration in their production models, mainly due to increases in production costs, low yields, and a loss in competitiveness, all aggravated by the negative effects of climate variability and the remnants of the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic. On the other hand, due to poor agricultural practices, their activity deteriorates natural resources, mainly water and soil. In response to this problem, and amid the pandemic, the government formulated the AGRINNOVATION 4.0 plan with the general objective of serving a total of 11,000 small producers in all regions of the country in a three-year period. This plan was based on the model of productive projects executed by the MAG Agricultural Extension Agency in Tierra Blanca, Cartago, with support from the School of Agricultural Engineering (TEC). This project used sensors and corresponding information on water requirements and soil conditions to define irrigation and fertigation with elements of precision agriculture and the Internet of Things (IoT). This plan achieved remarkable efficiencies in the use of water resources (95%), with a notable increase in yield (12.3 kg/m2 in potatoes), a 70% decrease in the consumption of pesticides, and a 35% reduction in the cost of production, as well as a significant strengthening of the safety of vegetable products.

The MAG, together with the Rural Development Institute (INDER), started this program in the Eastern Central Development Region, according to the definition of these ministries, through a project that initially supports 18 productive modules in open fields and 7 projects under protected agriculture, in the most important crops in the region (potatoes, onions, and carrots).

AGRINNOVATION 4.0 is made up of four components: 1) Adding Value and Sustainable Production, 2) Adaptation to Climate Change, 3) Development of the Central Data Repository, and 4) Training and Technology Transfer. The participation of the School of Agricultural Engineering of the TEC has been requested in this stage of the project to advise on the collection of information, design, selection of equipment, installation supervision, and monitoring of the data collection system, as well as support for component 1 (Value Addition and Sustainable Production), and the corresponding support in component 4 (Training and Technology Transfer).

Asesorar el desarrollo de agricultura de precisión e innovación tecnológica en 18 módulos productivos a campo abierto y 7 proyectos bajo agricultura protegida en papa, cebolla y zanahoria de la Región de Desarrollo Central Oriental de Cartago en el marco del programa nacional AGRINNOVACIÓN 4.0

Recursos de agua y suelos - Información y tecnologías para la producción