STRATEGIES FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

STRATEGIES FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENTEnding Rural Poverty in Guatemala

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How do poor farmers increase their incomes?An Example from Guatemalas Western Highlands2

Chimaltenango3Farmers in GuatemalasWestern Highlands1.5 to 5 acres of landAnnual incomes of $350 to $1,150 per familyGrow corn and beans for foodGrow coffee, vegetables, and fruit for incomeVery low productivityDo not husk and dry coffee4

A Focus on Coffee5Xesuj farmers Don Leonardo Puy Diaz, Julian & Damian Boror (brothers)

Pilot Project -- 5 Communities2005 ---------------------- 2006 ----------------------$68$119$142$1496INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY OF COFFEE TREESPROCESS COFFEESELL TO A MAJOR BUYERPrune treesCompost organic fertilizer Apply fertilizer at root ends of trees Improve shading of coffeeHarvest only red beansDehusk beansFerment beans overnightWash off sticky coatingSort beansDry beans from 54% to 10-12% moistureMeet with major buyers Negotiate salesMake business plansSend samples for testing

What farmers have to do to get out of poverty7Increasing Productivity -- Composting

8Increasing Productivity -- Trenching and Fertilizing

9Tierra Colorada farmer Ricardo Solano

Increasing Productivity -- Shading

Increasing Productivity -- Shading

Increasing Productivity -- Pruning

Increasing Productivity -- Pruning

Processing -- Harvesting only red beans14Processing -- Dehusking

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Processing -- Dehusking16

Processing -- Fermenting17

Processing -- Washing18Processing -- Sorting

19Processing -- Drying

20Improving Processing -- Drying

21Selling to a Major Buyer -- Transporting

22Pilot Project 5 Communities118% Increase in Income from Coffee20052006Area (1/4 acre)1Area (1/4 acre)1Productivity(Quintals/ 1/4 acre)4Productivity(Quintals/ 1/4 acre)7Production (qq)4Production (qq)7Coffee Beans (qq)1.46Price$17Price$102Income$68Income$14923How You Can Help3,900 families have requested our assistanceIn 2007, we started the program with 1,450 familiesIn 2008, we would like to expand it to reach at least, 1,950 families

Cost for 1,950 families: $197,200 ($101/per family) We Have Raised: $137,200We Need. $ 60,000

Help us fund the 2008 Guatemalan coffee program to reach 1,950 families.24

I like doing all of the practices the soil is no longer hard, but richer, softer, better. Our womens group was initially uneasy about working together because they had never done it before; but once we all got used to it, we liked it. Joselina Gorgonia (Guatemala)25Chart168119142149

118% INCREASE IN INCOME FROM COFFEE

Sheet1Baseline Income$68Increasing Productivity$119Husking and Drying the Coffee$142Selling Directly to a Major Buyer$149

Sheet10000

118% INCREASE IN INCOME FROM COFFEE

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