Give 20,000 vegetable seed packets to grow needed food to eat, sell, and test as new crops! In Jesus de Otoro Honduras, hillside farmers struggle to gain self-sufficiency. We'll provide diverse vegetable seed options to be tested and grown by the hillside farmers, along with technical support to farmer leaders who spread knowledge.
Hundreds of farmers were displaced from valley agricultural areas by large-scale cropping. Beyond agrarian work, there are no other jobs for the next generation of youth. With support from our partner FIPAH, farmers are organized into ag research groups and are developing highland corn and beans. But diets still lack nutrients that vegetables give. They also lack income to pay school fees, buy medicines, etc. The crops that grew well in the valleys fail on the high slopes; new crops are needed.
Seed Programs International will select a diversity of vegetable seed varieties - 20,000 packets - for adaptation to higher altitude Central American farming. FIPAH will be project coordinator in Honduras. Seed will be stored at 12 seed banks and given to peasant farmers via their self-directed groups. FIPAH will monitor gardens and report on their yield and success and the impact on livelihood, diet, and health. Training materials will be shared via local coordinators and a farm radio system.
The measurements required to gauge long term success are: 1) Diet and nutritional intake by the campesino farm families is improved. 2) Family income is increased by selling surplus produce in local markets. 3) To a degree, imported produce offered in the local markets is replaced with local goods. 4) The next generation is able to successfully continue the agrarian heritage of the people.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
