Agriculture

Outreach for World Hope believes that although it is necessary to save the lives imminently at risk of death, it is equally valuable to solve the underlying causes of starvation and poverty. Therefore, OWH programs include sustainable pathways out of poverty for the population they serve. Through agricultural research conducted by leading agronomy experts working in partnership with local growers, OWH has identified several drought tolerant food sources that will increase food security in the region. Our agriculture team is led by Dr. Douglas Maxwell of the University of Wisconsin Department of Plant Pathology and Dr. Luis Mejia of San Carlos University, Guatemala, Department of Agronomy. In 2007 and 2008 several improved seed varieties of beans, maize, and cowpeas were grown on experimental plots to determine their drought and altitude tolerance. Growers were very impressed with the yield of one cowpea variety which was obtained from the research program of the University of California-Riverside, and has had success in similar conditions in Africa. Additionally, an improved black bean hybrid, Arifi, produced 10-15% more yield than the traditional black bean.  There were no detectable differences in the output of the improved maize varieties. However, because of the encouraging yields of the improved bean and cowpea varieties, their seeds are being increased by an OWH agriculture consultant and will be ready for distribution to sponsored families in 2009.   

Another successful 2008 project was the introduction of virus-resistant tomatoes into the growing system for local growers.  Tomatoes are a high input, and high risk crop. Two virus-resistant hybrids, Llanero and Romelia, recently developed in Guatemala by Mejía and Maxwell, were grown along with a few plants of a virus-susceptible hybrid, Silverado.  OWH hired an agricultural consultant to monitor the progress of these crops and to provide advice to growers unfamiliar with tomato plants.  As a result, one grower harvested over 1,500 boxes of tomatoes in an area that normally would have produced 200 boxes of the susceptible hybrid.  This project demonstrated that with technical assistance, virus-resistance tomatoes can provide a cash crop for growers in the region.     

Another food producing program has proven successful and will be expanded upon in 2009. In 2006, 300 fruit tress of the varieties orange, lime, mango and avocado were given 2 per family to 150 families. Two and a half years later the trees are thriving despite drought conditions and are not only providing valuable vitamin and calorie rich fruit for the recipient families, they are beginning to produce a surplus which can be sold to purchase other needed supplies. In August of 2008 another 750 trees were purchased and were distributed 3 per family to the 250 families within the Virtual Village Population. This program will be expanded in 2009 to provide the fruit trees to 1000 additional families.

In the summer of 2008 it became necessary to increase our budget for agriculture projects as the rising gas prices drove the cost of fertilizer up by 150%.  This had little effect on the experimental plots, but made the purchase of mass amounts of fertilizer necessary in order to prevent starvation among the families of the Virtual Village population, of which 75% are subsistence farmers. Each farming family was provided with 100 pounds of triple-3 and 100 pounds of Urea in order to ensure that they could continue to farm during this crisis.     

Plans for 2009 include the distribution of the improved bean and cowpea varieties to the sponsored families in order to increase their food production. A microloan program will be made available to those wishing to invest in their futures by way of tomato farming. Small short term loans will be offered at 1% interest in order to teach business skills, which will improve self esteem as parents are able to achieve success through these opportunities to better provide for their families.