Technicians from the Ministry of Urban Agriculture and CIARA are trained in Regenerative Agriculture

A total of 18 technical and technical spokespersons and spokespersons from the Foundation for Training and Innovation to Support the Agrarian Revolution (CIARA), an entity attached to the Ministry of Popular Power of Urban Agriculture (MINPPAU), participated in the training experience on soil recovery, through regenerative agriculture and livestock, in semiarid soils.

On this occasion, Saúl Osío, Deputy Minister of Training and Agrourban Culture, highlighted the importance of preserving cover and vegetation layer, as well as stimulating soil microbial activity to ensure moisture retention and the availability of essential nutrients for plants.

The Deputy Minister stressed that agroecology and the preservation of the environment are fundamental pillars of the Ministry of Urban Agriculture. “Regenerative agriculture and livestock farming are precisely some of the technological proposals within the framework of agroecology and the preservation of the environment.”

Saúl Osío emphasized that throughout the year there will be visits and workshops in productive areas with agroecological practices throughout the country, including the experience at the “La Bendición” farm, as well as other spaces in Guárico, Portuguesa and Miranda. “We are going to continue the visits together with our technicians and spokespersons from different states, so that the exchange of ideas will strengthen the agro-productive and ecological fabric.”

For his part, Professor Andrés Kowalsky, in charge of the said farm, shared his impressions of the learning experience, with the spokespersons and technicians of the MINPPAU, during his visit to the farm. He stated that “they learned about the principles that govern the soil regeneration process, which foresees that under extreme conditions it does not affect crops and also allows crops to have a higher nutritional density, which are healthier”.

Kowalsky explained that Regenerative Agriculture has five basic principles, which were presented during the visit, including: “do not disturb the soil, keep it always covered, ensure the presence of green plants on the ground, promote biodiversity and, optionally, incorporate herbivorous animals for a better functioning of the system.”

He highlighted how these principles are applied to low-quality soils, even with a high proportion of sand, during periods of extreme drought. “We were in extreme drought, the crops were green, the animals were healthy, and that is due to a regenerative agriculture and livestock process that we have been doing for four years.”

Professor Andrés Kowalsky shared details about livestock and farming practices on the farm, as well as the impact of training in regenerative agriculture and livestock. “In an area of 220 hectares, we have cattle ranching Carora cattle, raising chickens and planting vegetables, we are in the process of integrating the garden part a little more, but first we had to improve the soil,” he said.

He stressed that they have trained more than 700 people in three years, from practice “so that they understand the principles and then see it in the direct field,” he concluded.