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1 remarkable experience
University of Washington
Machuca Village, Coclé Province, Panama March 20-27 2010
7 Panamanian families
29 UW students
Presentation made by: Karthika Appiah
Introduction
Granja Apros• Sell to community• For personal
consumption Chicken GoatsFarming – yucca, ….Tilapia
7 families Live in community (Machuca) Work on the farm (Apros) Maintain additional jobs
GRANJA APROS
Granja Apros
Farm began as source of subsistence Cheaper to farm on
vegetables, process own chicken, etc.
A communal effort from families of village Each family contributes
work Expansion of the chicken
business Currently, most of the farm’s
businesses are for subsistence
In the future, they hope to expand the farm as a source of steady income
SUBSITENCE VS. INCOME
Panama
Panama City, Panama Province Source of revenue:
Panama Canal Minimum wage:
$285/month, $1.78/hr Casco Viejo
Penonomé, Coclé Province City closest to
Machuca Village Machuca Village Low standard of
living Poor family
planning
Machuca and UW
Goal:- Provide the villagers with a tools, resources and knowledge to create a sustainable business.
Community Investment
Fund
• $2900• $100/student
Knowledge
• Marketing• Accounting
• English
Resources
• Chickens • Freezer• Building materials
REASON FOR VISIT
Potential Projects
Chickens• Expand the chicken business
Goats• Expand the goat business
Bakery•Build a bakery to bake and sells goods
Organic Farming• Sell goods grown on the farm
Strengths
• Big profit maker
• Source of food for families
• Demand in the community
• Customers are aware of the chicken business
• Farmers are passionate about the chicken business
Weaknesses
• Weather in winter interrupts chicken production
• Capacity of fifty chickens
• No storage for processed chickens
• Inability to compete with local chicken business
Opportunities
• Expansion of chicken coup
• Ability to compete with local business
• • Provide
chickens at a higher price
• Build stronger business relationship
• Increase profit $1.16 / lb. of chicken
Threats
• Too much demand
SWOT ANALYSISChickens
Buying 150 chickensExpanding the coop and making it
weather-proof
SOLUTIONSChickens
Buying a freezerCreating a two
week processing cycle
Material Amount Price
12 sheets of 8ftx42in zinc
$2.20/ft $211.2
0
9 columns of 12 blocks
$1 each $108.0
0
300 normal cinder blocks
$0.60 each
$180.0
0
12 pieces of rebar $7 each $84.00
5 pieces of different rebar
$2.25 each
$11.25
120 ft of beams $1.20 each
$144.0
0
200 screws $0.20 each
$40.00
20 sacks of cement
$9 each $180.0
0
Roll of mesh $100.00
COST INFORMATIONChickens
Material Amount Price
3 lbs of 14 in. wire $1.25 per lb
$3.75
4 lbs of nails $1.20 per lb
$4.80
Transportation cost
- $50.00
150 chickens $0.50 each
$75.00
6 bags of chicken feed
$22.50 each
$135.0
0
9 bags of fatty feed
$24 each
$216.00
3 varieties of vitamins
$4.50 each
$13.50
Freezer - $300.00
TOTAL $1900
$1900 out of the $2900 Community Investment Fund was used to expand the chicken project
Goats
Farm has 1 male goat, 2 females, and two offspring Expansion limited by need
to prevent inbreedingGoat milk primarily used
for children’s’ consumption and occasional sale
Farmers have training to make both cheese and yogurt
CURRENT SITUATION
GoatsSWOT ANALYSIS
Strengths
• Goats are a high quality Costa Rican breed
• Low cost of production
• Multiple uses: milk, fertilizer, sale of excess goats
• Self sufficient
• Long useful lifespan
Weaknesses
• Expansion into sustainability requires additional goat
• Demand less well defined than chickens
• Current pens at capacity
• Viability of selling dairy products limited by lack of refrigeration
Opportunities
• No local competition
• Potential for exponential growth
• Relatively low cost to expand
Threats
• Price may be too high for community
• Goats may difficult to replace in case of death or disease
Goats
Optimal number & gender of additional goats for expansion
Forecasted financial projections from expansion of goats over the next 3 years
Financial gains from expansion of goats versus chickens
Financial gains from expansion of goats versus kitchen remodel
CONSIDERATIONS
Goats
$400 out of $2900 Community Investment Fund was used to expand goat project
COST INFORMATION
Material Price
1 male goat $250.00
Immunizations/vitamins/medicine $50.00
Construction of goat pen $100.00
Zinc roofing material
$30.00
Chainsaw operator
$70.00
TOTAL $400.00
Kitchen CURRENT SITUATION
Only small area for cooking
A roof that needs replacement
A cleaner, proper area for processing the chickens o Expansion in chicken
business requires a better kitchen
Kitchen
Renovate and expand the kitchen
Total estimated cost for total renovation = $1500
We gave $500o A cement expansion to the kitchen
with a zinc roofo Steel tables for preparing chickens to
sell and food to eat
This extra space provides:o Comfort o Increased capacityo Increased labor efficiency
SOLUTION/COST
Future Projects
Transportation Projects
Bakery
Expansion of Goat Business
Future ProjectsTRANSPORTATION
2-mile trail to the farm30-minute up-hill hike to
communityFarmers carry bags full of goods
over their back20 ft. river crossing at the end
Future Projects TRANSPORTATIONPROBLEMS
Rainy Season Trail especially dangerous Less trips to the community More time, energy, and risk
Low Capacity 5 lb. Carrying bags 2 horses used for most transportation
Labor 2-mile transport of goods uphill 30 minutes by foot
Future Projects TRANSPORTATIONSOLUTIONS
Gravel
•Sections of the trail benefit from heavy gravel/cement
•Rainy season would be less taxing
•Easier on farmers and horses
Bridge
•Allow farmers to get across river
•Prevent the damage of food
•More accessibility in rainy season
Horses
•Increases time/energy for farmers to complete other tasks
•Less taxing on the farmers
•Faster trips to and from the farm
BAKERYFuture Projects
Women are formally trained bakers
Demand in community
No competition
Need an infrastructure that would meet food safety requirements
CostlyBreak-even point could
occur very long down the road
Unstable marketAdding the bakery
could provide too much work for the farmers and therefore not be a sustainable operation
PROS CONS
Would be an ideal business 5-10 years down the road
Dual benefit for Machucha Farm and Community
Increased infrastructure from more capacity
Buying another male and female
Research and develop milk process
GOATSEXPANSION
Future Projects
Accounting Workshop
Looked through notebooks Columns with amounts Each commissioner had a
different notebook
Asked questions of treasurer, Graciela Understanding of her
expectations Her current frustrations Communication between all
members of the farm with her
ACCOUNTING ANALYSIS
Goal:- Provide farmers with the knowledge and skills for efficient accounting
Accounting Workshop
More thorough documentation Consolidation of books by
animal, revenues and expenses
Describing costs Calculating profits
On a per pound basis Knowledge of profit level
OUR RECOMMENDATIONS
Streamlining the process: Purchases – Commissioner – Graciela
Marketing Workshop
Marketing Workshop
English Workshop
Goal:- Provide farmers with an interactive experience to learn English
PRESENTATION
Created set of pictures to teach vocabulary to the farmers
Common phrasesCultural exchange
“Hello” in many different languages
English Workshop
Farmers were eager to learn the words and phrases we taught them
They took notes and were very involved
In the days following, a few of the farmers would try out the phrases they had learned
RESPONSE
Application of Classroom Learning and Knowledge
Applied marketing and accounting skills Calculated financial
projections, breakeven points, and profit forecasts
Communicated in Spanish
Strengthened teamwork
Farmers’ Comments on Their Experience
First, nervous and anxious for our arrival
Hopeful for the help we could give in creating a more consistent income that would allow them to send their children to school
Surprised and happy to see how caring, involved, and helpful we were
Overcome with gratitude for our contributions
Pleased to have made a “new family”
Students’ Favorite Parts of the Trip
Cultural InteractionExploring Panama CityEnjoying Delicious
FoodLearning about and
spending time on the Machuca Farm
Helping Others/ Making a Difference
Most Powerful Experiences of the Trip
Lives, aspirations, and cultural values of the farmers
Education is important yet unaffordable
Power we, as students, have in helping those less fortunate than ourselves
Dedication of farmers
Students’ Overall Experience
“It was the most amazing experience I have ever had. I have never felt so connected with a group
of students than I did on the trip. I met some amazing people and had the time of my life while
helping others.”
“Everyone should do it.”
“This trip was an excellent balance between a fun spring break vacation and a meaningful
academic excursion. It was a fun and rewarding learning experience.”
S T U D E N T S G AV E A R E S O U N D I N G :
DEFINITELY!
Would You Recommend this Trip to Other Students?
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