23% of Nicaraguan children are chronically undernourished. Protein is critical to proper nutrition, but poor farm families struggle to afford meat, dairy & eggs in their diets. Growing high-protein corn is an affordable way for farm families to feed their children the protein they need. By sponsoring the inputs for 5 farmers to grow high protein seed corn, you will ensure the production of more than 20,000 protein-rich meals, enhancing overall health and nutrition for Nicaraguan families.
23% of Nicaraguan children are chronically undernourished. Protein in particular is critical to proper childhood brain development, yet poor farm families cannot afford to purchase meat, dairy or eggs. Many smallholder farmers could increase yields by implementing simple practices such as planting on time with the rains or applying inputs at the correct times after planting, but often lack the funding to purchase those inputs on time to put that knowledge into action.
Quality Protein Maize (QPM) is a conventionally bred (non-GMO) corn high in digestible protein. Since corn is a staple in the Nicaraguan diet, QPM is an appropriate and affordable alternative source of protein. This project will provide all seed and inputs for 5 farmers to cultivate QPM. Self-Help has already trained the farmers in improved cultivation practices to increase yields. They just need financing to put their knowledge into action & grow QPM to better nourish their local communities.
The supply of QPM in all of Nicaragua was depleted in 2014. We have imported new seed from Mexico so that these five farmers can re-establish the supply of QPM in Nicaragua. They will plant registered QPM seed as soon as financing is available. When the corn is harvested, it will be planted once more to multiply the seed available for consumption. By the second harvest, there will be sufficient corn to provide more than 20,000 high protein meals to improve nutrition among Nicaraguan families.