FAO meets with small-scale farmers to learn about the opportunities and challenges of digitalization in Chile's Ñuble Region

30 May 2023.- On 23-25 May, officials from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the Nations (FAO) visited Chile's Ñuble Region to support the Ministry of Agriculture, the Institute for Agricultural Development (INDAP), the Office of Agrarian Studies and Policies (ODEPA), the Undersecretary of Telecommunications (Subtel), the Undersecretary of Tourism, and private sector entities in identifying the challenges facing small-scale farmers in terms of access to the benefits of digitalization. The visit took place within the framework of the work that these actors are carrying out to implement territorial digital development initiatives in certain areas of the Ñuble Region.

The team toured the districts of Ninhue, Portezuelo, Quirihue, Ranquil, San Nicolás, Treguaco, and Cobquecura to talk with men and women working in agriculture, crafts, and tourism about the opportunities and challenges related to their different activities, and how digital innovations could contribute to better production and a better life.

After the visit, the expert in territorial development and investment development and digitalization of the FAO Regional Office, Eduardo Ramírez, pointed out that "we were able to verify that coordination with local governments is essential, because they are mobilizing resources and are interested in expanding access to digitalization in rural areas".

In addition, he stressed that it is important that rural communities strengthen their digital capacities to take advantage of the services that the State has available in this matter, as well as to improve their links with markets and expand their access to more and better information for decision-making in production management.

It is expected that the official launch of this initiative, which seeks to generate opportunities to advance in the transformation towards more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agri-food systems, will take place in the coming weeks.

About the 1000 Digital Villages initiative

In 2020, FAO launched the global initiative "1000 Digital Villages" to promote the digitalization of services in rural areas.

There are currently 14 countries in the region participating in the initiative: Belize, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Grenada, Guatemala, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Peru, the Dominican Republic, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Venezuela.

About the South-South Cooperation project: Digital transformation and innovation in agriculture

This initiative is part of the FAO-China-CELAC project in the framework of South-South Cooperation and provides financial and technical support for the design and implementation of rural digitalization pilot projects in the following LAC countries: Argentina, Barbados, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uruguay. The goal of the project is to contribute to the implementation of digital technology in rural areas.