Ministry updates response plan with nationwide workshops

The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (MAGA) has started the process to update its Institutional Response Plan (PIR) across Guatemala. The initiative began in the second week of November and involves collecting information and sharing the latest version of the plan with stakeholders.

The Directorate of Geographic, Strategic Information and Risk Management (DIGEGR) is leading this process. According to MAGA, the main goal is to strengthen technical capacities among institutional staff and improve coordination for emergency situations affecting the agricultural sector.

Initial workshops have taken place in Sololá, Quetzaltenango, Retalhuleu, Izabal, and Chiquimula. The program will conclude with sessions in Guatemala, Alta Verapaz, and Jalapa. This approach aims to cover a significant portion of the country.

During each workshop, participants review the most recent PIR version and provide feedback for updating the 2026 plan. MAGA has scheduled ten workshops throughout November to reach personnel in all 22 departments. Some sessions are held jointly to ensure broad participation from technical teams and to enhance institutional preparedness for risk events.

In Chiquimula, representatives from MAGA at the departmental level joined staff from the Secretariat of the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (SE-CONRED) and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The session focused on sharing experiences related to anticipatory action and emergency response in the region.

"Experiences about anticipatory action and emergency response were shared during this session, highlighting their positive impact on food security in rural communities," according to organizers.

DIGEGR also presented progress on an updated study of agroclimatic regions. This study is expected to generate important data for planning and decision-making nationwide.

"With these actions, MAGA reaffirms its commitment to comprehensive risk management in agriculture and inter-institutional collaboration, promoting a more timely and effective response to threats affecting production and food security in Guatemala," said officials from MAGA.