CENTA expands powers and launches digital tools in El Salvador

The Salvadoran Health, Agriculture, and Environment Commission has approved reforms to expand the powers of the National Center for Agricultural and Forestry Technology (CENTA). These modifications aim to combat inflation in agricultural input prices and ensure food security by allowing CENTA to manage strategic reserves of seeds, grains, and machinery.

Under the new regulations, CENTA will be authorized to acquire, import, produce, store, and distribute agricultural inputs and equipment. The center will also have the authority to negotiate financing with national banks and access international resources to establish a revolving fund for these activities. To facilitate these operations, CENTA may coordinate the use of facilities from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG).

In a parallel effort to modernize the sector, the government, through MAG and CENTA, has launched AgroConecta in collaboration with the European Union, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and the FAO. This hybrid extension model integrates digital tools—such as WhatsApp, mobile applications, and audiovisual materials—with traditional in-person technical assistance to provide continuous support to farming families, including rural women and indigenous communities.