The future of the Bercian countryside has new protagonists. Five people from different towns in El Bierzo have begun a training experience in horticulture through the Agromentoring program, a project of the El Bierzo Regional Council that focuses on generational renewal and new approaches to rural entrepreneurship.
For five months, the students—three women and two men between 28 and 58 years old—receive practical and theoretical training. on a Land Bank property located in Villadepalos, municipality of Carracedelo. The focus of the program is clear: to train new professionals capable of boosting the agricultural potential of the region.
An initiative with institutional and economic support
Agromentoring is part of the project "Command on the Road. One more step." With funding of €172.000 (€148.000 from the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge and the remainder from the Regional Council itself), it also has the support of the Bierzo Quality Foods Association, reflecting the interest in making the most of the surrounding resources and revitalizing disused properties.
The Villadepalos farm, chosen for its agricultural tradition, has become the perfect setting for participants to acquire knowledge not only in the work of the field, but also in the management and marketing of products, under the supervision of professional farmers.
Training oriented towards employment and sustainability
The training experience offered by Agromentoring covers 230 hours of immersion in horticulture, complemented by practices in other farms in the region. The ultimate goal is for participants to be able to integrate professionally into the sector, especially in the Huertas del Sil cooperative, which emerged within the Land Bank.
During their training, students grow onions, tomatoes, peppers, and lettuce, reclaiming a previously abandoned agricultural area. They also receive part-time contracts, which provide them with initial work experience in a sector with growth potential. as noted by those responsible for the program and the collaborating association.
The authorities involved, including the president of the Regional Council Olegario Ramón and the Minister of Training, Employment and Agenda 2030 Laura Fernández, have highlighted during their visits that this initiative It seeks to strengthen generational renewal in the countryside and food security through local products and sustainable agricultural methods..
Commitment to maintaining population and stopping rural depopulation
One of the great challenges in Bierzo and other rural areas is to establish a populationPrograms like Agromentoring strengthen residents' connection to their surroundings, providing not only professional opportunities but also new opportunities for entrepreneurship and personal development in rural areas. As one of the local officials pointed out, “The trees you plant in your town encourage you to stay,” reflecting the social and emotional impact of this type of initiative.
The training model is complemented by the launch of an additional free restaurant course in Molinaseca, in recognition of the demand for qualified hospitality and catering personnel in the region. This 230-hour course, with limited places, aims to fill the professional shortage in another key sector.
