Women prepared to face climate change with better production practices
Almost 300 indigenous Lenca and mestizo women from the dry corridor of Honduras strengthen the adaptation capacities of their crops in the face of climate change.
10 October 2020, Honduras - The Climate-Smart Family Agriculture Project for Resilient Food Production (AFCI-PRA) being executed in Honduras, as part of the Euroclima+ Actions, has strengthened the capacities of Lenca and mestizo women in the dry corridor through climate change adaptation and mitigation in the production of coffee, livestock, basic grains, honey resulting to food and national security.
One of the producers, María Bartola Márquez can be found in the community of Planes, Cabañas, Honduras, in her nursery garden of Parainema variety coffee (resistant to drought) and her plot of Brachiaria brizantha grass for the establishment of agroforestry systems and to produce silage for summer feeding.
“I am happy with life because I am going to have food for my cows in the summer, when grass is scarcer. We have not done ensiling before, now I have ensiled a plot. We are improving livestock feeding and our practices with the support of the project,” says María Bartola happily.
Maria shows her crops
Training for livestock
At the livestock level, the AFCI-PRA Project supports them with training and technical assistance, to guarantee the feeding and nutrition of livestock such as silage, mineral salts, cutting and grazing seed banks; as well as the implementation of silvopastoral systems, practices and measures. This contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, says engineer José Luis Flores, sub-coordinator of the project.
Similarly, the project has provided each association of farmers with silos, presses and materials for the construction of small galleys and feeders in order to improve resilience in food production in a context of climate change. In addition, contributing with the National Determined Contributions (NDC) prioritized in the country.
272 more empowered women
Like Mrs. Maria, 272 women strengthened their capacities with the support of the project. They have been trained in the Field Schools (ECAS) on the production of basic grains, sustainable livestock and coffee. Meanwhile, on the subject of Food and Nutritional Security (FNS) to date, about 27 women carried out integral management of family gardens, among other actions.
María cleans her coffee nursery with 3,000 plants of a variety resistant to drought, which will be established in an agroforestry system with association of native tree species. “My dream came true, I am preparing everything to plant it next year, and in April, I will apply the organic fertilizer on my farm,” she adds.
About the project
The Project is part of the actions of #EUROCLIMAPlusAlimentos. It is executed by the SNV Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV) and the Association for the Integrated Management of Watersheds of La Paz and Comayagua, Honduras (ASOMAINCUPACO). The Regional University Center of the Center (CURC-UNAH) is a strategic partner while the Presidential Office for Climate Change (Clima +), Honduras is a political counterpart.
AFCI-PRA promotes resilient food production in 600 families of indigenous Lenca communities and mestizo population, under a sustainable management approach of the water resources of the El Venado and Chiflador - Guaralape watersheds in Honduras.
About EUROCLIMA+
EUROCLIMA+ is a program funded by the European Union to promote environmentally sustainable and climate-resilient development in 18 Latin American countries, particularly for the benefit of the most vulnerable populations. The Program is implemented under the synergistic work of seven agencies: Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), French Development Agency (AFD), Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Expertise France (EF), International and Ibero-American Foundation for Public Administration and Policies (FIIAPP), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and UN Environment.