Honduras: Food Sustainablity for Women and Youth
Promoting Sustainable Livelihoods Through Agricultural Enhancement
Iriona, Honduras, Central America
Honduras is one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere. One of the most isolated regions of this country is the municipality of Iriona in northeast Honduras, home to the Garifuna people. These people are descendents of former African slaves. They have suffered enormous oppression and poverty over the years. Iriona is on the path of some of the most severe hurricanes the world has ever seen.
As men often look for work outside of the community, such as on fishing and tourist ships, women are the primary farmers in Garifuna villages. They struggle to provide enough food for their families, rising at 3 am and working in the fields until the tropical sun becomes too overwhelming at mid-morning. They prepare food for their children and process the harvest for future consumption and some sales. The Garifuna Agricultural Enhancement program will teach greater agricultural diversity and sustainability through education and micro-credit programs for women and youth. The goal is to ensure food security and higher family incomes in the future. Participants in the project include 81 women (from nine communities) and 300 junior high school students. Training and education will be provided on bio-intensive sustainable crop management and composting techniques. This project will also include educational radio programs, bio-intensive farming plots for training purposes and construction of a regional training and cultural centre which also serves as a hurricane shelter.
How you can help
This is a CIDA supported program. The Government of Canada will match your donation by $2.00 for every $1.00 given.
Make cheques payable to CAUSE Canada and send to: The Rice Raiser, PO Box 2514, Abbotsford, BC V2T 6R3
2007 CAMPAIGN RESULTS
- 80 women are being trained in biointensive composting and small farming techniques to increase agricultural production, ensuring food security and a possible source of additional income.*
- 4 junior high schools receive a boost to their Agricultural curriculums with the introduction of training sessions and peer education.
- 8 women’s groups and four schools were selected for indepth training and technical support
- A main demonstration nursery was established in Ciriboya, Iriona to plant experimental crops, test new, organic agricultural techniques, implement best practices and provide seedlings and training for community groups.
Thank you for supporting this project and the 2007 Rice Raiser Campaign.
Appreciation for Your Help.
Message of Appreciation to Rice Raisers
May 2007
CAUSE Canada, on behalf of our partners and beneficiaries in Honduras, would like to express our deep gratitude for the generous support of Rice Raisers and its contributors. This partnership is valuable for assisting the Garifuna population of Iriona in the northeast region of Honduras overcome severe difficulties and constraints to their well-being. In particular, the work of CAUSE Canada and your important contributions have promoted access to healthy food for many women, children and men. The training, supplies and seeds provided to these special people allow them to develop long term, sustainable sources of food supply for their families. This improved quantity and quality of food allows balanced diets and proper nutrition, contributing substantially to the health of the local population. A healthy population is the basis for a healthy, prosperous community.
Thank you for making a BIG difference in this world through Rice Raisers and CAUSE Canada!
Astrid Castillo’s Story
Promoting Sustainable Livelihoods through Agricultural Enhancement
A Participant’s Perspective
At the tender age of twenty, Astrid Castillo of Punta Piedra, Honduras, already has ten years of agricultural experience. While many people ten years into a career find themselves stuck in their ways, Astrid is eager and willing to better her craft. Much of this enthusiasm stems from the fact that Astrid clearly understands the importance of agricultural enhancement for the development of her land, family and Garifuna community.
The Garifuna peoples of the northern coast of Honduras (an Afro-Caribbean ethnic group) have a 200 year history of agricultural production in the region. The traditional and most important crop continues to be yucca, a root vegetable used by the Garifuna population for the production of casabe bread. Casabe bread is a common snack, tasty side dish and, most importantly, it can withstand the tropical conditions for an extended period of time.
Astrid dedicates the majority of her time in the fields to the yucca harvest. To tend to the yucca Astrid, along with female friends, aunts and her 80 year old grandmother, leave for the fields at 3:30am, arriving at their plots just after 4:00am in order to take advantage of the cooler morning air. This process keeps Astrid busy Monday through Thursday. On the weekend she travels approximately five hours by bus to attend classes in the city. She is currently taking college level science and communication courses.
Astrid’s dedication to both agriculture and learning made her an ideal participant for an agricultural enhancement course offered by one of CAUSE Honduras’ local partner organizations, Sub Sede Pastoral Social. This young lady eagerly recounts the skills she obtained. The combination of levelling, tilling and the application of organic and locally available fertilizers has resulted in notably stronger and healthier yucca harvests, reports Astrid.
Despite the program’s successes, plenty of opportunities for improvement still exist. The accessibility, frequency and sophistication of agricultural workshops can, and will be increased. As part of the organic agricultural program, CAUSE Honduras is also dedicated to promoting composting throughout the region. Although Astrid learned how to use bocaci, an accelerated composting process, she admits that she probably could use another workshop to feel confident enough to use this technology in her own fields. Furthermore, CAUSE Honduras is keenly working to promote crop diversification for the economic, environmental and nutritional wellbeing of the Garifuna communities. Educational initiatives and locally managed organic nurseries will help CAUSE and community members reach this objective together. Finally, we must consider Astrid’s primary concern: Young agricultural producers are becoming less common every year. Garifuna traditions, notably the production of yucca and casabe bread, could be potentially lost in the coming generations. Astrid believes one of the most important things that CAUSE Honduras can do to help her community is to work with enthusiasm and expertise to ensure that her fellow youth and future generations are encouraged and inspired to continue working the land.
