Increasing Crops, Protecting Land in Guatemala

Summary

In collaboration with the Mayan group PRODESSA, the project benefits 5,900 people in Poqomchi' villages to increase food production and protect the environment through sustainable agriculture.

What is the issue, problem, or challenge?

The department of Alta Vera Paz has the lowest development indicators in Guatemala. Indigenous Poqomchi' communities are located on fragile mountainsides, degraded through slash-and-burn agriculture. Families face high food insecurity, poor health conditions, and lack of access to education and health services. They survive on limited income from coffee and cardamom production, and by growing corn for consumption. Communities are vulnerable to natural disasters, such as Hurricane Mitch in 1998.

How will this project solve this problem?

Experiment with techniques for ecologically sound agriculture. Spread approaches that demonstrate success through exchange visits and trainings.

Potential Long Term Impact

Starting with the urgent need of improving crop yields, the program will organize Mayan communities to gain training that can address health, increased income and other community priorities.

Project Message

The most important thing is taking sustainable agriculture from theory to practice. What we learn is not just in our heads; it is feeding our families.
- Alberto, Community Volunteer

Additional Documentation

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

Resources