STRATEGIES FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT Ending Rural Poverty in Guatemala

How do poor farmers increase their incomes? An Example from Guatemala’s Western Highlands

Chimaltenango

Farmers in Guatemala’s Western Highlands 1.5 to 5 acres of land Annual incomes of $350 to $1,150 per family Grow corn and beans for food Grow coffee, vegetables, and fruit for income Very low productivity Do not husk and dry coffee

A Focus on Coffee

Pilot Project -- 5 Communities $68 $119 $142 $149

INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY OF COFFEE TREES PROCESS COFFEE SELL TO A MAJOR BUYER  Prune trees  Compost organic fertilizer  Apply fertilizer at root ends of trees  Improve shading of coffee  Harvest only red beans  Dehusk beans  Ferment beans overnight  Wash off sticky coating  Sort beans  Dry beans from 54% to 10-12% moisture  Meet with major buyers  Negotiate sales  Make business plans  Send samples for testing What farmers have to do to get out of poverty…

Increasing Productivity -- Composting

Increasing Productivity -- Trenching and Fertilizing

Increasing Productivity -- Shading

Increasing Productivity -- Pruning

Processing -- Harvesting only red beans

Processing -- Dehusking

Processing -- Fermenting

Processing -- Washing

Processing -- Sorting

Processing -- Drying

Improving Processing -- Drying

Selling to a Major Buyer -- Transporting

Pilot Project – 5 Communities 118% Increase in Income from Coffee Area (1/4 acre)1 1 Productivity (Quintals/ 1/4 acre) 4 Productivity (Quintals/ 1/4 acre) 7 Production (qq) 4 7 Coffee Beans (qq) 1.46 Price $17Price$102 Income $68Income$149

How You Can Help 3,900 families have requested our assistance In 2007, we started the program with 1,450 families In 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: $137,200 We Need. $ 60,000 Help us fund the 2008 Guatemalan coffee program to reach 1,950 families.

“I like doing all of the practices… the soil is no longer hard, but richer, softer, better.” “Our women’s 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)