Empower Communities to Adapt to Climate Change

In Central America’s Dry Corridor—spanning Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua—the climate crisis is no longer a distant threat; it’s an everyday reality. Farmers in this region face worsening droughts, more frequent hurricanes, and increasingly erratic weather. These conditions have devastated crops, degraded soil, and left families struggling to feed themselves. Today, over 70% of farmland is degraded, and 60% of households face food insecurity.

With Our Feet In the Soil, launched in partnership with Catholic Relief Services (CRS), is a bold, community-centered initiative tackling this crisis head-on. Since 2020, the campaign has provided millions of smallholder farmers with practical, expert-backed strategies for sustainable Water-Smart Agriculture (WSA). The goal is simple but powerful: empower rural communities with the knowledge and tools they need to secure their food systems and build long-term climate resilience.

A Multi-Platform Approach to Education

The success of this initiative lies in its ability to meet farmers where they are—both culturally and technologically. Through an engaging mix of media, including:

•Radio dramas and call-in shows featuring local farmers and agricultural experts

•WhatsApp messages and IVR (interactive voice response) systems that deliver timely, customized guidance

•Community-led workshops and peer-to-peer learning facilitated by extension workers

…farmers are gaining the confidence and know-how to adapt their practices, even in the face of an increasingly unpredictable climate.

Measurable Impact

The results speak for themselves:

•4.2 million farmers have been reached across the region

•85% of listeners have adopted at least one sustainable farming practice

•95% of farmers report learning new techniques that improved their crop yields and soil health

These are more than statistics—they represent real families who are now better equipped to nourish their communities, protect their land, and weather the challenges of climate change.

Looking Ahead

“As long as our feet are on the soil, we will keep learning,” said one farmer from Honduras. This spirit of resilience and adaptation fuels the continued expansion of the program. With sustained support, With Our Feet on the Soil will continue to grow—amplifying local knowledge, strengthening food systems, and helping communities across Central America not only survive the climate crisis but shape a more secure and sustainable future.

Links:

• https://risingimpactglobal.org/impact/livable-planet/with-our-feet-in-the-soil/

With our partners in Central America, we harness the power of media and community engagement to protect lives, strengthen food systems, and promote sustainable farming practices. Hear directly from our partners about how this work transforms lives and livelihoods.

About the program:

Climate change and COVID-19 have deepened food insecurity across the region. Droughts, hurricanes, and health challenges continue to threaten farming communities.
 
Since 2020, PCI Media has partnered with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and their Agua y Suelo (ASA) program. Together, we created “With Our Feet on the Soil,” a radio drama set in a fictional agricultural village, weaving practical lessons on soil health and water management into the story of the Rodríguez family.

The drama has reached 4.2 million listeners in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Among surveyed listeners, 85% report adopting sustainable farming practices inspired by the program.

CRS’s network of community promoters complements the radio show by reinforcing messages on farming and COVID-19 safety, ensuring farmers can plant, grow, and sell crops securely.

Thanks to the Nielsen Foundation and generous donors, we’re now expanding the program to better reach women farmers—those most affected by the climate crisis and barriers to economic inclusion.

With your support we're able to ensure critical programs, like this one, that promote sustainable behaviors and climate resilience. Thank you!

Links:

• Local radio partners and CRS Testimonials, El Salvador