Deep Roots

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Current challenges

INDAP is consulting with its various stakeholders to develop a

strategic plan for the government period of 2014-2018. Through

these consultations, a number of challenges have emerged.

There is a need for an inclusive intervention strategy in the

territories. The challenge here is to promote the orderly inter-

vention of the different state agencies, looking to implement

an integrated approach to rural and agricultural development.

Strengthening the quality of services is an urgent task.

Given the significant level of coverage, the task of the

coming years is to provide quality services to small produc-

ers working with INDAP.

Innovation must be a central axis of intervention. The chal-

lenge is to promote innovations in the products and processes

that improve the family income of producers.

Productivity and sustainability are an ongoing challenge.

Chilean producers have advanced in terms of productivity, but

there is still much to do in terms of environmental improve-

ment. Both issues are complementary in order to achieve a more

sustainable and more comprehensive intervention strategy.

Irrigation and water resources management must be devel-

oped. Some regions of Chile face a drought that has now

lasted for more than eight years. Improved irrigation is essen-

tial to ensure the future, in a context where climate change

will exacerbate these restrictions.

The internal market is one of the main challenges of the

period, because until now the efforts have focused on export,

with limited results. The advance of telecommunications and

the country’s infrastructure makes it possible to think that this

objective can be achieved successfully through the promotion

of local fairs, public procurement, sales at the farm and other

types of short circuits.

The development of partnership is crucial in order to

address domestic and export markets. This is also critical to

achieve adequate levels of social participation.

A key challenge is the promotion of inclusive development

for women and youth. Women are responsible for about

30 per cent of the farms in the family farming sector, and

there are very successful programmes such as the Training

Programme for Rural Women (PRODEMU) to encourage

entrepreneurship. These programmes have broad support

thanks to the efforts of rural women. The rural youth, mean-

while, will shape the future of Chilean agriculture.

A focus on indigenous peoples is essential in order to reduce

social inequalities and to achieve rural development and a fairer

and more balanced society. Finally, it is important to develop

local networks to strengthen the social capital of family farming.

All these lines of work will be performed in conjunction

with farmers’ organizations and other government agencies,

applying a social networks logic, in order to exploit synergies

and avoid duplication and lack of coordination. Through these

initiatives INDAP looks to take over the paradigm shift that is

observed in the international discussion on the development

of family agriculture: innovation, networks, short circuits,

indigenous agriculture, women and youth, and environment.

All these concepts are emerging strongly in the Chilean rural

development agenda, and gradually changing public policy.

We hope this process will culminate with a battery of more

modern and integrated public policies that have a significant

impact on the economy and on the lives of rural families.

INDAP: Major programmes

Technical assistance

• Technical Advisory Service (individual)

• Technical Advisory Service (companies)

• Productive Partnerships Program

• Local Development Programme

• Indian Territorial Development Program

• Agricultural Program for the Integral Development

of Small Farmers of the Dry

• Training Programme for Rural Women

• Management and Organizational Support Program

Working capital

• Short-Term Credit

• Main Support Fund

• Agricultural Insurance

Capitalization

• Investment Development Program

• Irrigation Program

• Incentive System for Agro-Environmental Sustainability of

Agricultural Soils

• ‘This Is My Land’ programme

• Long-Term Credit

• Grassland and Pasture Program Supplemental Resources

Markets

• Country Flavours Program

• Trade (Rural World Expo - Regional Fairs)

Support in emergencies

Image: INDAP

INDAP is working with farmers’ organizations and other government

agencies to support rural development

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