INDRHI and the Office of the First Lady sign cooperation agreement

INDRHI and the Office of the First Lady sign cooperation agreement
Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo, 06/17/2011

The National Hydraulic Resources Institute (INDRHI) and the Office of the First Lady (DPD) signed a cooperation agreement whereby they pledge to promote development and socio-economic growth, and educational and cultural development in rural areas through the Irrigation Boards.

“I am very hopeful, I know you will notice the difference from your own communities, but you have to participate, make the programs your own, and utilize the technologies we are making available to you,” she said.

To this end, they will undertake collaborative actions to integrate the Programa Cultura del Agua (PCA) and the Agribusiness Management Centers and the Audiovisual – Libraries Centers (CEGA – CABI), which the INDRHI is currently implementing, with the Community Technology Centers (CTC) and the Community Broadcasting Network (REC) of the Office of the First Lady.

At the event, Frank Rodríguez, Executive Director of the National Institute of Water Resources (INDRHI), said that this agreement represents a far-reaching event which will allow for a qualitative change to take place in the improvement of rural society and in moving forward to producing a generational shift to ensure that people living in the rural areas continue living there. He also recognized the work being done by the Community Technology Centers (CTC) in bringing technology to irrigators.

On the other hand, First Lady Margarita Cedeño de Fernández, said that by signing this agreement a large technology network is being created to benefit the entire agricultural sector, which will also have a positive impact on producers nationwide. “I am very hopeful, I know you will notice the difference from your own communities, but you have to participate, make the programs your own, and utilize the technologies we are making available to you,” she said.

She stated that the integration of the INDRHI, the DPD and the irrigation boards will be of great benefit to the farmers, and that it is in the best interest of all that the knowledge producers will acquire through the courses offered by the CTCs help them improve their income, as well as their management and marketing techniques, as reported by the DPD Communications Division.

Cedeño de Fernández greeted the members of the Irrigation Boards of Las Matas de Santa Cruz and Villa Vásquez, Padre las Casas, San Juan de la Maguana, San Rafael del Yuma, Arenoso, Pedernales, Esperanza, Río Camu, Ranchito, Duvergé, Independencia, Tamayo, Bahoruco and Sabana de la Mar, who were able to attend the signing of the agreement via videoconference.

Details of the Agreement

The agreement was initialed in the First Ladies’ Gallery room, where Dr. Margarita Cedeño de Fernández signed it on behalf of the DPD, while Engineer Frank Rodríguez signed it on behalf of the INDRHI. Engineer Julio Antonio Rodríguez, President of the National Irrigation Board, witness the signing of the agreement.

The main lines of work that have been identified in the document are the development and application of information and communications technologies to provide access to educational services and for the implementation of training programs targeting irrigators, for the promotion of agricultural production, associative marketing and competitiveness.

It will also address the issues of training and the promotion of agricultural and non-agricultural businesses in rural areas, as well as the promotion of knowledge, information, and community education on environmental conservation, the preservation of water resources, disaster prevention, hygiene, and preventive health.

The agreement specifies that both institutions will develop joint annual work plans. In this regard, INDRHI commits to providing DPD staff the information that is needed to implement the activities and to provide physical space within its facilities for educational, training and exchange activities.

In turn, the DPD will make available inputs, resources and contributions to facilitate access to the members of the irrigation boards to educational resources and information and communications technologies that are on hand in the DPD and which are available through the Technology Centers. Additionally, it will facilitate the use of the Community Radio Network for the design of radio campaigns and message broadcasting.

The Office of the First Lady promotes programs and projects that respond to the pressing needs of the health, education, women, family, and sustainable social development sectors. Among its programs under way are the Community Technology Centers, which allow for the democratization of access to information and for the promotion of the use of information and communications technologies as tools for social and economic development.

On the other hand, the INDRHI maintains the CEGA – CABI and Cultura del Agua (Water Culture) programs. The first one seeks to assist irrigators in the process of transforming their agricultural plots into business units, and to introduce them in the use of technologies to improve their performance in the production and marketing processes, and to promote the increased profitability in the agricultural sector in the less irrigated areas.

 In turn, the Cultura del Agua program trains and integrates the community in the decision-making on the protection, conservation, distribution and use of water to ensure a sustainable supply suited to the needs of domestic use, irrigation, and industry and recreation, among others.

Petra Rondón
In charge of Press
Communications Division
809-285-3262 ext. 2272
Fleet 809-722-4136
E-mail: p.rondon@primeradama.gob.do

Julie Perez Terrero
Journalist
Communications Division
Office of the First Lady of the Dominican Republic
Dr. Delgado Ave. 254, Gázcue, Santo Domingo
j.terrero@primeradama.gob.do
809-285-3262 ext. 2261
809-696-2187 cel.

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