Agros Blog

Last month, heavy torrential rains passed across Central America and Mexico, affecting all of the countries where Agros works. Unfortunately, these storms also brought flooding and crop damage to Agros communities in El Salvador and Nicaragua. We have been in close communication with all Agros Country Directors as they have evaluated the storms’ impact. They are now formulating plans to support these communities through this time.

The initial damage estimates are:

El Salvador:
Approximately 75% of the bean crop has been lost in two communities so far, and corn crops were also badly damaged. Homes and latrines have suffered water damage as well.

Basic grain crops damaged in three communities: El Milagro, San Diego de Tenango and Nuevo Renacer
Homes damaged in three communities: La Esperanza, San Diego de Tenango and Nuevo Renacer

Nicaragua:
The northern Matagalpa region was hit especially hard by these storms, particularly coffee and corn crops. Health is also a concern, as many are suffering from related respiratory illnesses.

Basic grain crops damaged in three communities: San José, Tierra Nueva and El Edén
Productive crops damaged in three communities: Nueva Esperanza, San José and El Edén
Homes damaged in one community: Tierra Nueva
Health concerns in four communities: Nueva Esperanza, San José, San Marcos and Luz del Mañana
Access roads damaged in three communities: San José, Tierra Nueva and El Edén

Guatemala:
No significant damages reported.

Honduras:
No significant damages reported.

Mexico:
No significant damages reported.

Country Directors and staff are working with the local authorities to access available local resources to help the communities replant.

Agros International’s priorities are to make certain that essential food security remains in all villages; that income generation continues; and to ensure access to needed healthcare and housing repairs as necessary. Agros International has emergency funds that will be leveraged towards this effort; local authorities are making resources available; and if needed Agros will launch an appeal to raise additional funds to cover the unexpected losses.

The following was written by Rebecca Craig, an Agros International Student Worker in the Communications Department:

Last month, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation launched a new small farmer initiative that is directly related to the mission of Agros. Speaking at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs Symposium on Global Agriculture and Food, Bill Gates said, “I’ve become convinced that supporting their efforts to grow more food and get it to market is one of the best possible ways to invest money if you want to help the world’s poorest people become self-sufficient.”

This idea is at the heart of Agros, which has been partnering with rural poor families in Central America and Chiapas, Mexico to attain self-sufficiency through agriculture for nearly thirty years. But one of the factors that sets Agros apart from other organizations is that we view the inability to access land ownership as a major contributor to rural poverty. Without land of their own, the rural poor must either rent small plots of land that only allow for small yields and forces them to give a portion of their yield back to the owners, or work on large farms for little pay and with no job stability. Both of these options take a huge portion of food and potential profits away from those most in need.

That’s why Agros works with a group of families to identify and purchase agricultural land, with the understanding that these families will work to pay off the loans and eventually own that land. These families begin growing their crops, initiating a repayment of those loans at a low interest rate over a period of about ten years. Their payments enable Agros to recycle these funds into future land purchases, effectively passing on the blessing to other communities in need.

Of course, land alone is not the answer. Rather, we form a partnership that is founded on our holistic and participatory development model which entails a long-term commitment to join with each of the communities. Agros comes alongside the families we work with and facilitates this process, ensuring that families access necessities like housing, clean water, and education, in addition to small business loans and training for land use and stewardship.

This is not charity; it’s an investment in the capacity of people and in agriculture.  First the families can begin to grow crops to feed themselves and their families, making day to day survival less of a struggle. Once they’ve reached a steady food supply, then they can begin trying new crops and securing contracts to sell them for additional income, with assistance from Agros agronomists.

Mateo and his wife are a great example of just how necessary land ownership can be to poverty elimination. Over twenty years ago, Mateo and his family fled from the civil war in Guatemala to the safety of Mexico. There they worked on different ranches, dependent on the whims of landowners for survival.  Twice the family tried to put down roots and grow coffee and plantains, only to be kicked off the land. Coffee in particular is a crop that grows well in some climates in Central America, and when produced at the right quality can be quite profitable. But it is also a crop that takes three years to fully mature, and thus requires being on the same land to reap the benefits of years of hard work. Mateo and his family never had that opportunity before partnering with Agros. Now the family lives in the community of Nueva Ilusión and is working towards owning their own land. Looking forward, Mateo shared, “I’m happy because now we have the security of having land to plant—no more patrones kicking us off without notice.”

We have witnessed the amazing potential that agriculture holds for our community members like Mateo, and have enthusiastically watched them journey out of poverty and into self-sufficiency in just one generation. Our families’ hard work – through cultivation of crops such as coffee and snow peas for world market consumption – has given them the opportunity not only to own their own land but also to earn a living, support their families, and dream of a brighter future. We hope that Gates’ speech draws greater attention to the importance of what small farmers are doing in Agros villages throughout Central America and Mexico.  For more information on how Agros is working to empower families and small farmers in Central America and Mexico, click here.

As we celebrate Earth Day today, consider that for many families in the developing world, every day is really earth day.  For the billions who live in rural areas, their survival is entirely dependent upon the land.  Their access to food, shelter, and income is intrinsically linked to the earth.  And when that access to land is not secure, the cycle of generational poverty continues because of the lack of those resources.

At Agros, we believe that the first step toward upholding environmental sustainability begins with land ownership.  To that end, the Agros development model is focused on ensuring access to land, affordable credit, and technical training proven to support sustainable land stewardship.  For families who partner with Agros, this is the key to breaking that poverty cycle in a powerful way.

How can you help Agros families to be responsible environmental stewards, on Earth Day and every day?  Do your part by investing in rural families who employ sustainable agricultural practices today, so that future generations can continue to enjoy the land!

• Plant a dozen trees in an Agros community
• Give a toolkit to an Agros farmer
• Provide agricultural sustainability training
• Buy a share of an acre of land

Learn how else you can help at the Agros One Seed Gift Catalog!

Did you know that today is International Women’s Day?  It’s a great opportunity not only to celebrate the gains women have made in our own families and communities but also those of women around the world.

Agros has always recognized and supported the crucial role of women in building and nurturing thriving communities and families.

Consider how your support and advocacy for Agros has empowered women in Central America:

• In Agros villages, women now hold nearly half of all leadership positions, enabling them to have an active voice in the governance of their communities, many for the first time in their lives.
• Last year Women’s Community Banks expanded to communities in all five countries where Agros works, transforming rural farmers into savvy businesswomen who are educated about credit and savings.
• Many women have launched small businesses in areas such as baking, sewing, artisan crafts, and agriculture, providing additional income to support their families.
• Women in Agros villages are legally recognized on land titles in their communities, ensuring that they have equal ownership rights to their land as their husbands.  In this region, this is highly unusual.
• Many women have completed the training necessary to serve as the community health promoters in their Agros villages.

As we honor women around the world today, let’s reflect upon the incredible journey that the women of Agros have embarked upon to transform their communities.  We must also think about the opportunities that are still awaiting future generations of women.  Together, let’s help support their efforts by providing them with access to resources and the opportunity to learn and grow.

Please consider giving the women of Agros villages the gift of hope through a gift of:

• Women’s Small Business Loan
• Women’s Economic Initiatives Training
• Village Health Promoter Training
• Rabbits and A Flock of Chicks (for small business creation)
• New Mother & Baby Kit