After 12 months of work and dedication, on 19 October 2012 technicians from different parts of Mexico were recognized for their efforts in an August graduation ceremony for the āTechnicians Certified in Conservation Agricultureā course. The 48 graduates constitute the third generation of specialists trained to provide technical advice and assistance to new farmers as part of the āTake it to the Farmerā initiative of the Sustainable Modernization of Traditional Agriculture (MasAgro) program.
Held at CIMMYT-El BatĆ”n, the ceremony was attended by dignitaries including Francisco Mayorga CastaƱeda, Mexicoās Secretary of Agriculture; Mariano Ruiz Funes, Mexican Undersecretary of Agriculture; Bruno Gerard, director of CIMMYTās global conservation agriculture program; Bram Govaerts, leader of āTake it to the Farmerā; Heriberto Ortega RamĆrez, Secretary of Agriculture and Livestock Development for the State of Mexico; and Rodrigo SĆ”nchez MĆŗjica, Director General of the Mexican Trust Funds for Rural Development (FIRA).
In his talk to the graduates and other guests, Mayorga CastaƱeda highlighted the key role of MasAgro in bringing change to farming in Mexico, thus increasing food production while promoting sustainable development, and said the technicians were central to this occurring: āI hope their activities will be successful and the knowledge they have acquired will be applied, for this will undoubtedly bring positive results for rural Mexico.ā
In 2011, more than 12,000 farmers benefitted from the training of 2,500 technicians. āWith the support of these newly-trained technicians, we hope to significantly expand the 21,000 hectares currently under conservation agriculture in Mexico,ā said Govaerts.