Puente a la Salud Comunitaria aims to empower 60 small-scale farmers in Oaxaca, Mexico, providing training, tools, and agro-ecological farm inputs to allow them to grow amaranth and other crops in a sustainable and natural process. Amaranth is considered a superfood because of its nutritious properties, resistance to climate change and potential market value. Thus, they will produce healthy food that prevents degrading their soils and water sources and also reduce certain health risks.
Oaxaca is considered the 2nd poorest state in Mexico. The rural population is exposed to significant health risks related to a dependence on cheap, imported processed food. Also, the farmers are accustomed to using chemical pesticides that can affect the health of their entire family. The Director of Epidemiology reported around 4,000 cases of pesticide poisoning in 2016 only in Mexico. This project will support 50 producers living in vulnerable communities most affected by rural poverty.
With 15 years of experience in Mexico, we will support community-driven initiatives to diversify their farms and diets with amaranth and other agro-ecological and healthy food alternatives. Moreover, we have committed to training community promoters, who can best engage with leadership at the local level. With your support, we will strategically invest in farmers who desire to grow amaranth and other local food alternatives.
According to his testimony, Don Hilario used to suffer from a terrible disease that affected his nervous system and led him near death. For this reason, he and his family decided to stop using chemicals on their land and started to practice ecological agriculture. This changed their life completely and now, he is one of the leaders in promoting this new method. We want to help farmers like Don Hilario and contribute to food sovereignty in order to advance their health and economic development.
