Almost a month after the suspension of the launch of the National Agricultural Registry (Renagro) in mainland Ecuador, which was scheduled for February 15, there is still no new start date.

This was confirmed this Friday afternoon, March 10, by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG), assuring that the new minister, Eduardo Izaguirre, should soon meet with representatives of the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), the organization that will provide resources through the state loan.

The start of the work of the National Agricultural Register, which was scheduled for February 15, has been suspended

The announcement of the start of Renagro was suspended after the resignation of the previous minister, Bernardo Manzano. While Izaguirre, who served as the Deputy Minister of Agricultural Development, was named Minister-in-Charge on February 19 and was named Chief Minister on March 8.

Meanwhile, MAG recalled that the Registry had a pilot plan that was developed in the Galapagos Islands, which included communication, socialization and information gathering between August and September 2022, while the processing and dissemination of information was in November 2022.

The results obtained are that there are 1,117 producers in the Galapagos, in 1,154 agricultural production units (UPA). The monitoring area is 24,528 ha.

The Ministry reiterated that Renagro, which has not been implemented for 22 years, is a comprehensive registry, which will be implemented on all producers, in rural areas of the country, to determine how many people related to the agricultural sector really exist. , what they produce, how they produce, what they produce and where they are located.

Eduardo Izaguirre was in charge and is the fourth Minister of Agriculture and Livestock in the government of Guillermo Lasso

The project’s technical team, which will consist of about 2,000 people, will visit the manufacturer on his land to answer a survey of 200 questions, divided into nine modules.

These questions will collect socioeconomic information on the producer as well as variables such as machinery use, labor, credit, land tenure, technical assistance, georeferenced location of the UPA, among others; which will later be used to prioritize state policies, based on knowledge and evidence, since the Register will identify the sectors most in need of attention, investment and modernization, MAG explains.

According to the technical planning so far, the country will be divided into 3 continental-level zones in the rural area, which include the provinces of the coastal region, the Sierra region and the Amazon region. Results will be available by July 2024.

The $30 million that will cost Renagro will be paid within 20 years, plus a 5-year grace period.

Meanwhile, regarding AFD’s participation in Renagro, MAG indicated that it is a public body that contributes to the implementation of French development policy and international solidarity in practice.

“It intervenes in the agricultural sector, in all its phases, in order to promote inclusive and sustainable rural development, but also to ensure the food security of the population,” explained the Ministry, noting that AFD will pay 30 million dollars, as part of the signed contract with the Ministry of Finance, which will cover the total value of the Renagra foreclosure.

The funds, which will be delivered in 3 payments, will have a repayment term of 20 years, including a 5-year grace period, with an interest rate of approximately 0.25% per annum.

AFD will monitor and evaluate the activities, processes and procedures carried out by Renagro in order to fulfill its objective.