Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader has launched a nationwide agricultural mechanization initiative in San Juan province to modernize farming methods and reduce the sector's dependence on foreign labor.
The project, known as the National Mechanization Program or Pronamec, aims to introduce specialized machinery and modern technology across every stage of agricultural production in the Caribbean nation.
Speaking at the official launch ceremony in San Juan, Abinader said the Dominican government must work alongside agricultural producers across the country to phase in mechanized farm work, noting that automating agricultural tasks is cheaper, less complex, and vital for national security.
San Juan, located in the western valley region of the Dominican Republic, serves as one of the country's primary agricultural hubs, where traditional farming methods have historically relied heavily on manual labor.
Phases of the mechanization program
According to the Presidency, Pronamec covers all stages of crop production, ranging from initial land preparation and planting to crop management, harvesting, and post-harvest operations. The initiative also establishes specialized training programs for equipment operators and mechanics, alongside new financing mechanisms designed to help small and medium agricultural producers access modern machinery.
The initial phase of the project features demonstration plots in San Juan, with expansion planned for Las Matas de Santa Cruz in Valverde province, as well as La Vega, Constanza, and Arenoso. These demonstration sites will be used to evaluate which specialized technologies adapt best to different crops and regional conditions.
The entire initiative represents an investment of over 200 million pesos and will be implemented in three distinct stages. The second stage introduces flexible financing options through the Agricultural Bank, the Bank for Development and Exportations (Bandex), and commercial banks. It also promotes cooperative and associative models that allow smallholders to share machinery and lower production costs.
The third phase will scale mechanization across the entire country by strengthening and modernizing the Agricultural Services and Mechanization Program (Prosema) under the Ministry of Agriculture.
Data provided by the Dominican Presidency highlights the economic importance of agriculture, which accounts for approximately 5.6 percent of the nation's gross domestic product, generates 8.8 percent of national employment, and provides nearly 11.8 percent of export earnings.
University campus and commercial plaza
During his visit to San Juan province, Abinader also inaugurated construction work for a new campus of the Federico Henríquez y Carvajal University (UFHEC) and launched Plaza Arcasa, a 19,000-square-meter commercial development backed by private capital. Government officials said both projects are designed to broaden higher education access, stimulate commercial activity, and generate local employment opportunities.
The seven-story UFHEC campus will feature classrooms, laboratories, a dental clinic, and administrative offices. Academic programs at the facility will focus on career fields in high demand, including Dentistry, Software Engineering, Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence, Biotechnology, and Precision Agriculture.
UFHEC Rector Alberto Ramírez said the new campus will allow young people in San Juan and other southern communities to enroll in specialized academic programs without having to move to other regions of the country.
Plaza Arcasa will feature 21 commercial spaces, an Olé hypermarket, service establishments, and parking facilities. The commercial complex will be located on the Francisco del Rosario Sánchez highway at the corner of Thomas F. Reillyn Bypass, near Caonabo park.
Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology Rafael Santos Badía stated that both developments form part of a government strategy to widen professional training and job opportunities across the provinces. San Juan Governor Ana María Castillo added that the investments will help revitalize education, commerce, and the broader provincial economy.
Presidential schedule in Santo Domingo
Following his activities in San Juan, Abinader is scheduled to lead a series of public events across Greater Santo Domingo on Saturday, beginning at 11:00 a.m. with the inauguration of a new roof structure at the Santo Cura de Ars Educational Center (CESCAR) in the Capotillo sector of the National District.
At 11:50 a.m., the president will attend the inauguration of the rebuilt Villa Francisca Club facility. Shortly after, at 12:40 p.m., he will preside over the graduation ceremony for participants in the 14-24 Program of Greater Santo Domingo at the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center.
Abinader will hold a working lunch at 1:40 p.m. with 350 students from high schools, polytechnics, and private institutions representing Educational District 15-06 in Pedro Brand. The day will conclude at 3:00 p.m. with the inauguration of the Transportation Battalion of the Army of the Dominican Republic at the First Brigade headquarters, located at kilometer 25 of the Duarte highway.
