Ecuador to Strengthen Agricultural Public Services with IDB Support

WASHINGTON - The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has approved a $40 million investment loan to support the development of Ecuador's agricultural public services.

The financing, approved by the IDB's Board of Executive Directors, will help strengthen agricultural research, promote technology transfer, improve information management, and consolidate governance of the agricultural research, development, and innovation system. In addition, the loan will support agricultural health services by enhancing laboratory diagnostic capacity, risk management, and disease and pest surveillance, contributing to food safety.

The project includes the construction and upgrading of infrastructure with environmental sustainability and accessibility criteria, the implementation of advanced digital solutions based on artificial intelligence and virtual reality, and the training of technicians and producers in the transfer and adoption of new technologies. It also includes the adoption of good agricultural practices.

The program is expected to directly benefit more than 13,000 producers, with a special focus on rural women, indigenous communities, and Afro-Ecuadorians. It will also contribute to strengthening institutional governance, improving climate resilience in the agricultural sector, and enhancing public services related to agricultural health and food safety.

The operation will be executed by the National Institute of Agricultural Research (INIAP) and the Agency for Phytosanitary and Zoosanitary Regulation and Control (AGROCALIDAD), both entities under the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fishing.

The agricultural sector in Ecuador accounts for 7.7% of GDP and nearly 30% of jobs nationwide.

The loan has a repayment term of 25 years, a grace period of 5.5 years, and an interest rate based on SOFR.