Economic Growth Guatemala Project #34852

3,000 Guatemalan Farmers Graduate from Poverty

by Strategies for International Development

Summary

SID will help 3,000 coffee-farming families in Guatemala's poorest region graduate from poverty by helping them build successful family-farm enterprises. Farmers will increase their productivity and income from coffee. They will also learn to protect their farmland from soil erosion and landslides. Women will receive special assistance to increase their leadership and confidence so they play a more equal role. Farmers will increase income from $200 to $700 and reclaim 221 hectares of land.

$50,000
total goal

$47,005
remaining

24
donors

1
monthly donor

1
fundraiser

3
years

Challenge

Alta Verapaz is Guatemala's poorest region; 89.6% of the population is classified as poor and 46.7% as extremely poor. The region also has the lowest level of schooling. 93% of the population is Mayan, who have been excluded from opportunities for advancement. There is no salaried employment, so farmers who choose to stay in their communities rather than migrate have to create their own jobs. Women have much less schooling than men and suffer from inequality and a lack of opportunity.

Solution

Farmers grow high-quality Arabica coffee, but are poor because they have low productivity and don't husk their coffee. SID will help them double their productivity, husk and sell their coffee for a higher price, and make better business decisions. We will also help them conserve their mountainside land from erosion and provide special assistance to women so they play an equal role in the family business. Farmers will reclaim 221 hectares of land and increase income from $200 to $700 a year.

Long-Term Impact

SID's project will help 3,000 families build successful farming businesses and graduate from poverty. Farmers will conserve the natural resources upon which their farm-enterprises depend, and women will play an equal role in building these businesses or start other businesses. This will create prosperous rural communities where parents won't need to leave their families for jobs in the city or another country and where they can afford to send their children to school.