Adopt a Plot Program Engages Youth in Agricultural Practices

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER), through its Adopt a Plot initiative under the Fertilizers for Well-Being program, is fostering collaboration with educational institutions to engage young people in agricultural activities. This year, 160 students from 13 higher education institutions in Zacatecas are participating, alongside 30 cooperating producers, 14 teachers, and 12 technicians from the Ministry's Rural Development Districts (DDR) and Rural Development Support Centers (CADER).

According to José María Llamas, the state representative of Agriculture, this is the third consecutive year of the initiative, which aims to promote efficient use of inputs and natural resources, while encouraging the younger generation to engage in productive activities in the field. Students maintain a logbook to monitor a plot with guidance from teachers and technicians, providing technical recommendations to producers on proper input usage and pest and disease detection.

Throughout the production cycle, students, teachers, and producers are invited to participate in the Fertilizers for Well-Being Seminar Series. These events include field trips, practical workshops, and training sessions on soil analysis, plant health, bio-input production, georeferencing, yield estimation, and soil and water conservation, among other topics.

Experts from the National Institute of Forestry, Agricultural, and Livestock Research (INIFAP) and the National Service of Health, Safety, and Agri-Food Quality (SENASICA), through the State Plant Health Committee of Zacatecas (CESAVEZ), contribute to these activities. This year, cooperating producers also received soil analysis support to better understand the needs of their plots, aiming to increase production efficiency and reduce input costs.