Between March 21 and 23, 2023, two meetings were held at the Chaco-Formosa Regional Center of INTA in Resistencia, Chaco; and at the Quimilí Experimental Station, in Santiago del Estero, in Argentina.
Between March 21 and 23, 2023, two meetings were held at the Chaco-Formosa Regional Center of INTA in Resistencia, Chaco; and at the Quimilí Experimental Station, in Santiago del Estero. 35 extensionists presented the progress in the execution of the project .
In the first instance, the Regional Director Chaco-Formosa of INTA, Diana Piedra, and the directors of the Experimental Stations of the Presidency Roque Sáenz Peña, Iván Bonacic were present; of the Breñas, Carlos Derka; and from Colonia Benítez, Juan José Vrdoljak. In the second meeting, the director of the EEA Quimilí, Gustavo Gerlero.
In both meetings, the coordinator of the FONTAGRO project, Alejandro Radrizzani, presented the different components of the initiative, the projection of activities for2023, and practical doubts of its implementation were clarified.
Then, each extensionist and/or group advisor of the Rural Change Program showed the progress of their respective pilot sites.
In general terms, the groups have advanced in the definition of their main problems to increase the weaning rates of their rodeos, and in specifying the technologies that would be implemented in the pilot sites. The necessary work to implement these technologies, which mostly imply the planting of pastures, were also carried out.
Unfortunately, many stressed that the extraordinary drought that represents the lowest level of rainfall in the last 35 years since there are records, ended up affecting plantings. In some cases the sowings made did not prosper properly, and in others, the same groups decided to postpone them so as not to risk the investment in seed that had been carried out from the project.
In the latter cases, the probable planting will be transferred to spring 2023, with the consequent delay in the schedules and compliance with objectives that the project had been set.
In the Gran Chaco region, especially in Argentina and Bolivia, drought has represented a strong economic impact with crop losses and pastures, mortality of animals and water shortage.
