Summary.
The bill establishes a scholarship funding mechanism to develop human talent in the agricultural sector. It directs education toward production, innovation and the sustainability of national agriculture. To that end, it creates the National Agricultural Scholarships Fund (Fondo Nacional de Becas Agropecuarias) to support technical, scientific and professional education in agricultural and agroindustrial fields. The fund would receive ten percent (10 %) annually from the Special Interest Compensation Fund (Fondo Especial de Compensación de Intereses, FECI). The National Secretariat for Science, Technology and Innovation (Secretaría Nacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación, SENACYT) would administer it under the law governing its scholarship programs.
The bill amends Article 4 of Law 4 of 1994 to assign the Agricultural Cabinet (Gabinete Agropecuario) responsibility for distributing the percentage allocated to the agricultural sector. The proposed provision reserves a share of no less than twenty-five percent (25 %) for the Agricultural Development Bank (Banco de Desarrollo Agropecuario) and allocates ten percent (10 %) annually to the National Agricultural Scholarships Fund. It again assigns administration of that fund to the National Secretariat for Science, Technology and Innovation under the law governing its scholarship programs.
The bill also amends Article 5 of Law 4 of 1994. The proposed provision establishes that FECI compensates banks and financial institutions for discounts applied to the agreed interest rates on the loans described in Article 1 of that law. It further allocates part of FECI’s resources, up to ten percent (10 %) annually, to agricultural scholarship programs for technical, scientific and professional education linked to the sector’s sustainable development. FECI would have the technical and administrative staff needed to perform its functions, while its resources would cover administration and oversight expenses.
The bill adds Article 8-A to Law 475 of 2025. That article assigns the National Secretariat for Science, Technology and Innovation a Subprogram of Agricultural Scholarships promoting education in sciences, technologies and practices connected with the country’s agricultural and agroindustrial development. The National Agricultural Scholarships Fund and other public or private funds designated for that purpose would finance it. Resources transferred from FECI would supplement, without replacing or reducing, the State’s regular budget allocations to the Secretariat. The Ministry of Economy of Finance (Ministerio de Economía de Finanza) would ensure that they are treated as an additional source of funding under the current budget. The bill identifies the amendments to both laws and provides for the proposed law to take effect upon promulgation.
The bill concerns the Agricultural Cabinet, the Agricultural Development Bank, the National Secretariat for Science, Technology and Innovation, and the Ministry of Economy of Finance. Its provisions could be relevant to students and professionals in agricultural and agroindustrial fields, educational institutions, producers, banks and financial institutions.
What it proposes.
- Funding for agricultural and agroindustrial scholarships.
- Allocation of FECI resources to the fund and scholarship programs.
- Administration of an agricultural education subprogram.
Who it would affect.
- Applicants for technical, scientific or professional education in agriculture and agroindustry.
- National Secretariat for Science, Technology and Innovation.
- Agricultural Cabinet and Agricultural Development Bank.
- Banks and financial institutions covered by the FECI framework.
Key points.
- Establishes a scholarship funding mechanism for education connected with agricultural production, innovation and sustainability.Art. 1
- Creates the National Agricultural Scholarships Fund, financed with ten percent (10 %) annually from FECI and administered by the National Secretariat for Science, Technology and Innovation.Art. 2
- Assigns distribution of the sectoral allocation to the Agricultural Cabinet, reserves no less than twenty-five percent (25 %) for the Agricultural Development Bank and allocates ten percent (10 %) annually to the scholarship fund.Art. 3
- Amends the FECI framework to allocate up to ten percent (10 %) annually to agricultural scholarships and to cover the fund’s administration and oversight from its resources.Art. 4
- Adds to Law 475 of 2025 a Subprogram of Agricultural Scholarships administered by the National Secretariat for Science, Technology and Innovation.Art. 5
- Provides that FECI resources supplement the Secretariat’s regular budget allocations and that the Ministry of Economy of Finance ensure their treatment as additional funding.Art. 5
- Identifies the amended and added articles and sets promulgation as the start of the proposed law’s effect.Arts. 6-7