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Farmers from the Pintados Farming Colony inaugurate a new photovoltaic system to optimize crops
This initiative is part of several commitments that SQM has brought to fruition with the communities in the sector, including road improvements, training on farming and livestock issues and ongoing support in the development of the area.
The farmers of the Juventud del Desierto Indigenous Association from the Pintados Agricultural Colony have a modern photovoltaic system, whose technology will allow them to optimize and reduce costs in the water extraction process. This initiative is part of the working group that the company maintains together with the agricultural association.
During the opening ceremony, SQM’s Director of Iodine Nitrates Communities and Public Affairs, Pablo Pisani, pointed out that as a company “we are very happy to share this bright sunset with the association, which represents a radical change for its agricultural management, where its members will have renewable energy for pumping water, allowing them to grow and invest resources in technologies, generating added value and expanding their development prospects. Today we celebrate a milestone associated with a public-private collaboration, where we worked together with the municipality, which played a fundamental role in this initiative, and we are happy to be celebrating with the entire community.”
This modern implementation is also part of the commitments that the chemical company maintains with its neighbors and the environment, developing opportunities to continue working towards a sustainable industry and a greener future.
Ana Esteban, secretary of the Juventud del Desierto Indigenous Association, thanked everyone involved in this implementation. “This is a dream come true. We have worked together with the municipality and SQM to ensure that agriculture can continue in this desert, taking full advantage of our natural resources.”
Pedro Esteban, farmer and first director of the Juventud del Desierto Indigenous Association, pointed out that “this marks a turning point. From the outset, the cost of using a generator to extract water has been high. Today with this photovoltaic system, solar energy will be used to pump, which will enable us to produce a more sustainable crop, taking advantage of the sun and the land of this beautiful desert.”
Representing the Municipality of Pozo Almonte, the director of DIDECO, Hugo Estica Esteban, added that “involving relevant community actors and approaching private companies to make people’s dreams come true is very important. We thank SQM, who make it possible for these dreams to come true. This is a serious collaborative effort, where the private company provides constant support, training and contributing to the quality of life of these communities.”
This new implementation is one of several important initiatives that the company has implemented in conjunction with the municipality for the benefit of the families of Pintados, which include the improvement of roads with bischofite, the implementation of a modern technical irrigation system, the donation of farm implements and several projects aimed at developing a more sustainable agriculture in the world’s driest desert.