Minister of Agriculture Luis Ramon Rodriguez has announced that the Medina administration has authorized an increase in the wages of agronomists working for the state. He said that the minimum wage would now be RD$20,000 for an agronomist, while others will receive up to RD$35,000. He made the announcement when attending a Higher Institute of Agriculture (ISA) graduation ceremony in Santiago. “We have to improve working conditions for our technicians and as of 1 January we are going to do so,” he said. He said that the government has authorized RD$200 million for the wage increases.