Lempira, located in western Honduras, is the country’s poorest department.
Previous Heifer projects in the region focused on increasing food security and providing training for farmers working within the dairy and basic grains value chains. This created a strong platform of work with local farmers for the Lenca II project to build on, closing the gap between actual and living income.
So far, the results are very good. A doubling in dairy production from 0.7 gallons a day to 1.6 gallons has played a big part in increasing income for farmers.
Farmers have access to new inputs and dairy products, and farming practices and techniques have improved, as farmers receive support from Heifer Honduras’ field teams.
New seed varieties and irrigation systems have been provided to farmers, which have increased grain production, giving them more product to sell and reducing the need to buy food for their families and animals.
Farmer organizations are receiving support with their business plans, improving organizational and productions processes, setting them up to be sustainable and self-reliant, beyond the end of the project.
Local producers are also receiving training so they can meet the required agricultural and hygiene standards and get the operating, quality and safety permits they need to enter the market.
