The Salvadoran government has taken significant steps to support local agriculture by implementing advanced technology and providing strategic resources to farmers. Vice Minister of Agriculture, Óscar Domínguez, announced that through initiatives like mesh houses and technical assistance, Salvadoran products are reaching the new Central Supply Market (CDA) in Soyapango, ensuring fair prices for families across the nation. This recently inaugurated market, launched by President Nayib Bukele’s administration, is aimed at providing quality products at affordable prices to wholesalers, vendors, and restaurants, benefiting local consumers.
The CDA operates Monday through Saturday from 2:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., offering a diverse range of products, including fresh fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy, seafood, eggs, and meats. Domínguez highlighted that this technology not only supports small, medium, and large-scale producers but also allows them to grow both in open fields and protected environments.
In pursuit of boosting national production of vegetables and plantains, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) launched the Vegetable Production Increase Program, which aims to improve both the quality and quantity of local harvests. The program also includes the provision of adequate infrastructure, technical assistance, and incentives for farmers. As part of this initiative, MAG opened a tender in 2024 to install 120 mesh houses in key municipalities, which offer a protected environment that can reduce pesticide use by up to 70% while effectively controlling pests and diseases.
Domínguez emphasized that “specialized technical assistance, access to affordable supplies, and guaranteed commercialization are crucial actions we are implementing in these new production areas, in partnership with our local farmers.”