The Agronomist as a generator of changes
As we are recognized as a megadiverse country in climates, plants, birds, insects, etc., we must also recognize the diversity of agricultural practices that we have in different parts of the country.
If we go back in time and remember in hindsight, we can analyze what was developed by the pre-Inca and Inca cultures; we will find a diversity of practices according to the nature of each environment; and to date there are traces or structures that are used today. Such is the case of the "waru waru" in Puno, the aqueducts in Nazca, the irrigation channels at an angle or the andenería system existing in different parts of the mountains. Each of these practices as an alternative to the adverse situation faced by the old settlers; which denotes that the development of agriculture was sought throughout the Inca, despite the topography or climate.
With the arrival of the Spanish, mining was the most important economic activity, leaving aside all the development achieved in agriculture. After Independence, agriculture had little development and it was more important the exploitation of bird guano or saltpeter. It was not until after the war with Chile and to find ourselves in the stage of economic reconstruction that agriculture began to be given importance. This had its peak with the cultivation of sugarcane and cotton, with the northern coast being the focus of development. In that future, the National School of Agriculture was created in 1902 in view of the need to train specialists in agriculture, which would give support to the large sugar companies, mainly.
The Agronomist of that time (from 1902 to 1980) was characterized by the performance of a basic, generalist agronomy, with simple innovations related to the use of inputs and crop management. This Agronomist had to take charge of the management of all production processes, there was no specialization. From 1980 (after the Agrarian Reform) we started the stage of modern agronomy; from 1990 it became a business agronomy and an advance in technology was generated, therefore the requirements by specialty were more demanding. It was no longer possible for the agronomist to cover all the management of a crop, and he was forced to specialize, whether in irrigation, in health, in fertilization and, depending on the crop and its respective problems, he became more specialized. After the 2000 year, agronomy became multifunctional; whose innovation characteristics are more complex because it involves the management of agroecosystems, socioeconomic and environmental aspects (part of the exhibition by Dr. Oscar Ortiz, specialist in Innovation and staff of the International Potato Center).
Again, as occurred at the beginning of the 20th century when the development of agriculture focused on the north coast, we also observed a development in agriculture infrastructure and technology in the same region. Foresight helps us analyze agronomy trends towards the 2050. The demands of this agriculture go towards the development of a 'green economy' (in which the carbon footprint and the water footprint in the production of food must be reduced, but at the same time we must produce more food for the world population); also genomics, nanotechnology, remote perception, robotics, the management of a lot of information or data ('big data'), food security, the participation of large agrifood chains, sustainability, among others. Therefore, what is currently required of the future Agronomist is that he is a constant innovator in his activity to adapt to the changing conditions of the future and adapt agriculture to these conditions, he must be an innovation facilitator for the diversity of users (O. Ortiz).
However, there remains the development of agriculture in other parts of the country in order to promote equity and food security with sustainability and in accordance with the protection of the environment.
The inheritance of our ancestors demonstrates this culture of innovation in the face of adverse conditions, the food security of the old settlers was sought. Given the current scenario and the challenge of climate change, it is required that the agronomist be the generator of changes that the field requires.
Source: Agraria.pe
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