Washington, May 2, 2025 – The World Bank's Executive Board today approved an innovative program aimed at enhancing environmental sustainability, competitiveness, and economic participation of small and medium agricultural producers (PYMPAs) in Costa Rica. This investment is expected to strengthen agricultural development in the country, with a particular focus on crops, livestock, fisheries, and aquaculture.
The program will directly benefit approximately 10,500 PYMPAs and their families, with technical assistance and financing reaching an estimated total of 31,500 individuals, 30% of whom are women and 15% are young people. Additionally, approximately 30,000 producers will be favored through their registration on digital platforms within the agricultural sector.
"This project is a crucial step towards the sustainable development of our rural and most vulnerable communities. With the support of the World Bank, we will improve agricultural productivity and strengthen climate resilience, significantly contributing to the well-being of our farmers and their families," said Nogui Acosta Jaén, Costa Rica's Minister of Finance.
The $120 million loan for the Program for Sustainable and Competitive Agriculture in Costa Rica will support the implementation of the Public Policy for the Agricultural Sector 2023-2032.
"This credit is a vital support for the transformation of the Costa Rican agricultural sector, by financing specific actions within public policy that drive its evolution towards a more resilient and competitive model," said Víctor Julio Carvajal Porras, Costa Rica's Minister of Agriculture and Livestock.
The operation is designed as a Program for Results that links disbursements directly to the achievement of four main areas. The first supports institutional modernization by implementing a digital registration system for agricultural, livestock, aquaculture, and fishing activities to improve information management and access to services for producers.
The second area promotes the competitiveness of Costa Rican agricultural products through the creation of a traceability system that will allow producers to register their products and obtain essential certifications for access to national and international markets. Efforts will also be made to expand the National Refrigeration Network to improve market linkages for fishermen in the Central Pacific region, alongside promoting the use of bio-inputs to reduce agrochemical usage.
The third area aims to improve sustainable production by reducing carbon emissions, diversifying resilient crops, improving sanitary standards in livestock farming, and promoting efficient water use.
Finally, the fourth area seeks to add value to the environmental benefits generated by sustainable production models through payments recognizing carbon capture in sustainable production chains, including coffee, livestock, and sugarcane.
"This new financing is a testament to the long-term commitment and collaboration between the World Bank and the government of Costa Rica," said Carine Clert, World Bank Country Manager for El Salvador and Costa Rica. "Together, we contribute to enabling Costa Rican farmers, both women and men, to adopt sustainable agricultural practices and access national and international markets, fostering the country's economic and social development."
All the information about the program.
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