Sustainable Agriculture for Women Farmers

Summary

MADRE will provide farm animals and sustainable agriculture training to Indigenous Ixil women in El Quiché, Guatemala, helping them generate economic resources and develop sustainable livelihoods.

What is the issue, problem, or challenge?

The Ixil are a highland Maya community in Guatemala who are still suffering the effects of the decades-long Guatemalan civil war. Families in the region are unable to purchase basic necessities, much less livestock. This forces young people to emigrate to urban centers in search of work. MADRE will aid 225 Ixil women participants in this sustainable agriculture, food security, and economic development project.

How will this project solve this problem?

Services include: Provide pigs, corn, and supplies to 225 women; train 12 participants to lead future trainings; develop a marketing plan that includes local and urban markets; and create a revolving loan fund to support new participants.

Potential Long Term Impact

The project improves the diets of Ixil women and families in El Quiché and offers them food security; raises women's status in their communities, and offers them income-generating opportunities and marketing experience.

Project Message

With MADRE, we are excited to begin this project, which will teach us new ways to farm and help us feed our families.
- Mariela, Indigenous Ixil farmer

Additional Documentation

This project has provided additional documentation in a Microsoft Word file (projdoc.doc).

Resources