The Teach agriculture to youth in Puerto Rico Project has reach Partially the goals of planting fruits and vegetables and teah agriculture skills to youth students from the Mayaguez Alternative School. During school year 2019-20 the schools changed its programed schedule due to COVID 19 pandemic and the earthquales that impacted the soutn and west section of Puerto Rico where the farm and Alternative school are located.
The farm continue operating in maintenance of porducts planted such as dragon fruit and Cilantro. The Agronimist and one farm employee devoted efforts to clean service roads ,reeapiring and collecting products and selling porducts to small markets around the west area or Puerto Rico
During october they receive 13 students from the ASPIRA Alternative school at MAyaguez and provided them a tour bacross the farm to show them the cunsumable products , forest and other resources available in the farm. They ilustrated them how to preserve water sources trees and plants. Due to the short distance fron the sea any mismanage of resouce in the farm could affect the water sources including the beaches closed to the farm.
ASPIRA expended responsably the resources and there are $52,112.00 unexpended. ASPIRA propose to continue operating the farm as a teaching scenario and for agriculture and the conservation of forest and water sources.
ASPIRA Inc. de Puerto Rico
El Pitirre Agri - Educational Project # 4781
Quarterly Report
June 30 2021
The El Pitirre Agri-Educational Project has represent a challenge for ASPIRA.
During Pandemic times an Agronomist, one farm employee and other ASPIRA staff has supported the efforts to keep s Pitirre Farm by care of Plants (Dragon Fruit and others)
Equipped with Lap- tops or tablets 16 students from ASPIRA of Mayaguez Alternative School have participated of fourteen conferences in planting, fertilizing and keeping plants healthy and clean. The agronomist transmitted them his enthusiasm and knowledge and love for land and environment.
From February to May 2021 a new group of students participated of agricultural skills workshops. As allowed by social distancing regulations, students will attend to the farm and take presential hands on workshops.
To date, there is 1.5 acre planted with 235 dragon fruit plants, which are producing marketable fruits and second generation plants.
There are 210 lemon trees planted in an estimate of two acres. It is expected to start production in next year.
There is .75 acre of Dominican Yautia which is claimed by consumers for its nutritional value and deliciousness.
There are 18 tables under four green houses, planted with cilantro (recao) condiment that is sold to local markets.
The goal is to increase planting and production based on demand and cost effectiveness of such products.
ASPIRA Inc. de Puerto Rico
El Pitirre Agri - Educational Project # 4781
Quarterly Report
June 30 2021
The El Pitirre Agri-Educational Project has represent a challenge for ASPIRA.
During Pandemic times an Agronomist, one farm employee and other ASPIRA staff has supported the efforts to keep s Pitirre Farm by care of Plants (Dragon Fruit and others)
Equipped with Lap- tops or tablets 16 students from ASPIRA of Mayaguez Alternative School have participated of fourteen conferences in planting, fertilizing and keeping plants healthy and clean. The agronomist transmitted them his enthusiasm and knowledge and love for land and environment.
From February to May 2021 a new group of students participated of agricultural skills workshops. As allowed by social distancing regulations, students will attend to the farm and take presential hands on workshops.
To date, there is 1.5 acre planted with 235 dragon fruit plants, which are producing marketable fruits and second generation plants.
There are 210 lemon trees planted in an estimate of two acres. It is expected to start production in next year.
There is .75 acre of Dominican Yautia which is claimed by consumers for its nutritional value and deliciousness.
There are 18 tables under four green houses, planted with cilantro (recao) condiment that is sold to local markets.
The goal is to increase planting and production based on demand and cost effectiveness of such products.
ASPIRA Inc. de Puerto Rico
El Pitirre Agri - Educational Project # 47030
Quarterly Report
March 31 2021
The El Pitirre Agri-Educational Project represents a challenge for ASPIRA.
During Pandemic times an Agronomist, two farm employees and other ASPIRA staff has supported the efforts to keep students involved in farming skills.
Equipped with Lap- tops or tablets 16 students from ASPIRA of Mayaguez Alternative School have participated of fourteen conferences and workshops on planting, fertilizing and keeping plants healthy and clean. The agronomist transmitted them his enthusiasm and knowledge and love for land and environment.
From February to March 2021 a new group of students has participated of agricultural skills workshops. In accomplishment of social distancing regulations, students have not been able to visit the farm. They take distance learning workshops.
The agronomist and farm employee have planted with 186 dragon fruit plants, which are producing marketable fruits and second- generation plants.
There are 300 lemon trees planted in an estimate of two acres. It is expected to start production in next year.
There is .75 acre of Dominican Yautia which is claimed by consumers for its nutritional value and deliciousness.
There are 18 tables under four green houses, planted with cilantro (recao) condiment leaves that is sold to local markets.
The goal is to increase planting and production based on demand and cost effectiveness of such products.
The irrigation system is in its final stage. Solar cells provide energy to activate the pump who takes water to a reserve.
Laboratory test for quality of water is quoted and approved. In few days it will be summitted and the Natural Resources Department can authorize use and determine amount of water to be extracted.
The Executive Director, Finance Director and board members oversee the project by a presential visit to the farm and by reports by Agronomist.
Almost 65% of the youth in Puerto Rico lives under the poverty levels, and 56% lacks food security. Food shortage has heightened due to delivery delays during disasters such as Hurricane Maria, recent earthquakes aftershocks and COVID-19. Currently, 85% of food is imported.
The only solution to reduce low-income youth's risks of hunger and poverty rate is to strengthen the agriculture industry by providing them with agriculture education. Teach agriculture to youth in Puerto Rico is an ASPIRA effort offered at our emblematic El Pitirre Agri-Educational Farm Project located in the municipality of Cabo Rojo. ASPIRA’s leaders decided to fight food shortage by providing education and hands-on experiences in agriculture to at-risk and very low-income youth living in the western area of the Island. Furthermore, we are planting a diversity of crops such as pitahaya, coriander and lemons.
The project is providing agricultural education to 15 at-risk and low-income students enrolled in the ASPIRA Alternative School in Mayagüez. This component became part of a broader educational intervention that help them complete their high school diploma requirements. The participants are learning about agriculture, finance, entrepreneurship, and sustainable farming methods.
Government lockdown due to COVID-19 presented a big challenge to ASPIRA. On-site educational experiences to youth was not possible. Nevertheless, using technological devices and applications, we continued teaching agriculture to our students. Project staff and community partners were thrilled and moved by the sense of commitment shown in our participants. They were willing to continue their learning process once they understood the problem of food shortage and felt it was their duty to improve the circumstances.
GlobalGiving has been an incredible and helpful tool to continue developing this project. For example, we reached and surpasses the original $5,000.00 goal. A total of 110 generous people contributed an incredible amount of $6,000.00 for project implementation.
Eventually, with the continuous community’s support, this Project will improve the Island's food security by increasing the amount and diversity of crops produced in Puerto Rico. In the long term, it will also decrease poverty and unemployment by increasing the amount of trained agriculture workers and farmers (150 in 5 years). Services wold be expanded to other community members such as: veterans, people with disabilities, out-of-school youth, and the unemployed. It would also be a source of funds to ASPIRA to improve and expand services.
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