Osmar Benítez, the Executive President of the Dominican Agribusiness Board (JAD), boldly stated that 90% of the Workforce in banana cultivation consists of unskilled labour. This concerning trend also plagues other agricultural sectors.

During the inaugural "Let's Talk About Innovation" conference, he emphasized the urgent need for change, revealing that unskilled labour accounts for 80% of plantain, dairy farming, and coffee cultivation workers. For crops like rice, tobacco, and potatoes, the rates of unskilled labour range from 60% to 80%. This initiative will replace unskilled labour with skilled workers and advanced technologies.

Benítez outlined specific strategies for mechanizing essential tasks such as weed control and planting in banana cultivation. He highlighted the transformative potential of drones and portable milking machines in increasing efficiency and cutting production costs. The government has already allocated RD$3 billion to Bandex to finance the acquisition of these technologies, making it clear that the resources are available for those ready to embrace innovation.

José Taveras, an economist from the Ministry of Economy, identified significant barriers to agricultural innovation, such as the digital divide, resistance from traditional farmers, high initial costs, and a lack of awareness. He underscored the importance of increasing investment in research and development, facilitating access to technology, and fostering collaboration among farmers, researchers, and the private sector.

Despite employing over 360,000 people and contributing 5.6% to GDP, the agricultural sector must confront challenges like climate change, water scarcity, and the pressing need to modernize value chains to boost profitability. The time for decisive action is now.