| CELAQUE HIGHLANDS AGRO INDUSTRIAL PROGRAM |
| Proyecto Aldea Global has worked in the Belén Gualcho Celaque Highland region with Lenca and Chorti Indian farmers for more than 25 years. More recently this work has focused on (1) Organizing the producers association- APROCEL, (2) Improving farmers' capacity to produce quality products using modern production technology and drip irrigation, and (3) Developing the necessary production infrastructure such as water resources, water catchment dams, storage tanks and major pipe lines to bring water supply for irrigation and food processing and cold storage facilities.
This Project is providing the opportunity for 300 Lenca families to improve their lives through commercial agricultural production, diversification of profitable vegetable crops and improved income generation activities through a year round production infrastructure.
|
2011 Achievements:
1) 1,500 men and 300 women participated in over 150 various agricultural training events.
2) over 2,000,000 pounds of vegetables have been harvested and sold in the regional markets.
3) 12,000 technical assistance visits were made to farmers a part of the APROCEL Producers' Association.
4) 150 female leaders in APROCEL are trained on gender and laws that protect women's rights.
5) 50 women started their own income generation strawberry projects.
6) PAG built a water wheel in the community of La Mohaga to send water from the dam to the water storage tank for irrigation.
7) A greenhouse was built for potato seed production. The modern technology used in this design will help avoid production loss due to rain, plagues and disease.
| |
 |
| Greenhouse for potato production |
|
|
 |
| Waterwheel used to pump irrigation water. Built on site by PAG |
|
|
| Blue, Green and the Future |
 |
| Water for irrigation |
|
| Since 2004, PAG has joined together with 300 producers in the Municipality of La Libertad, Comayagua to implement a "coffee diversification program" aimed to reduce their dependency on coffee and diversify their farm crops.
PAG approached the problem with an integrated strategy, focusing on coffee diversification, environment and watershed protection, nutrition and health programming complemented with education and civil society empowerment. The program succeeded in diversifying 500 small crop farmers with vegetables, fruits, banana trees, fish, hen farms, etc. Later the farmers were trained and formed the "Hope Planting Cooperative" with 165 active members. PAG has built a new municipal regional market center building in La Libertad for the farmers to have a place to market their products.
The five intervention themes of the program include high value crop production, drip irrigation systems to secure all year-round production, produce marketing, job creation, income generation and environmental protection.
Achievements (2008-2011):
1.) Three irrigation systems were built and are functioning in the target area.
2.) Three 40,000 gallon water tanks for irrigation purposes have been built and are functioning in the target area.
3.) Three packing houses have been built and are fully equipped.
4.) 120 farmers use the packing houses for storage, marketing and training.
5.) A total of $25,794 (during 5,732 labor days) were paid in salaries to workers for soil preparation, field cleaning, harvesting, classification and packing for the market.
6.) A total of $133,180 in sales for farmers marketing green peppers and plantains was earned. ($32,324 made in sales from 2011).
7.) 5,800 trees including pine, eucalyptus and cedars were planted beside the roads, around fruit collecting points and around water tanks. This was done with the support of local communities and school students.
8.) A nine kilometer access road was built to transport produce from the fields.
|
 |
| Green peppers ready to be taken to the market |
|
|
|
