Increasing Agricultural Productivity

El Valle is a primarily rural region in southern Honduras that has struggled with a host of socio-economic problems in recent years. Environmental degradation caused by deforestation and erosion, combined with a lack of sufficient irrigation, have drastically hampered the region’s productivity. As a result, the rate of migration out of El Valle, particularly of youth, is rising steadily, and remittances have become an essential source of income for many of the region’s families.

• identify crops that are both well-suited to the climate of El Valle and have market demand;
• study and design a rainwater-based conservation and drip irrigation system; and
• conduct a technical assessment of the environmental and socio-economic conditions needed to ensure success.

Following this, CHF will use 21 model farms to demonstrate the benefits of planting locally adaptable crops as well as improving the production of crops that were previously planted. Included in this phase will be the implementation of the newly-designed communal rainwater irrigation systems. CHF will construct at least 18 irrigation systems, which will provide water for over 90 hectares of land. We will also work with the communities to convene and train committees that will be responsible for the maintenance of the irrigation systems.

In addition to improving the technical capacity of small farmers, CHF International and the Center for Business Opportunities (CREON), an agriculture facility that was previously established by CHF, will provide micro-entrepreneurship trainings so that farmers can improve their leadership and marketing skills and increase their competitiveness in the export market.

Through this program, farmers will benefit from two planting seasons per year, instead of relying solely on the rainy season for irrigation. In turn, productivity of farmers will increase by at least 40%.