Strategies for International Development

In Guatemala, in 2022 we continued our regional program in Alta Verapaz. Farmers in the general population are increasing their knowledge and adoption of practices for graduating from poverty. The results for early-adopter communities are divided into three groups: (I) 40 original communities in the municipalities of San Cristóbal and Carchá; (II) 21 original communities in the municipality of Cobán; and (II) 60 new communities in all three municipalities. The 715 coffee farming families in Group I increased their income from the baseline of $106 to $824 a year from coffee. The 477 families in Groups II increased their income to $432; and the 2,165 families in Group III to $346. Nearly all women have a second business, and in 2022 they made major increases in income from these businesses. The 824 women from the original 61 communities increased their income from $183 to $709. The 1,145 women from the 60 new communities increased their income from $127 to $740.

In 2022, we began a regional program in Luweero District Uganda. The goal of the project is to give 130,000 Robusta coffee farmer the chance to graduate from poverty. At the start of the project, we held workshops in each of the three counties of Luweero District, and the farmers defined 8 practices for increasing productivity, 10 for hulling coffee for a higher price, 6 for conserving their land and water, and 8 for making better business decisions. Farmers in the general population are increasing their knowledge as well as the adoption of these practices. After a year of technical assistance, the farmers in early-adopter villages increased their productivity from 113 to 127 kilos per 1/4 acre of coffee, sold more coffee in dried cherries, and had some modest increases in price. As a result, the increased their income from $397 to $512.

In Peru, in 2022 we continued to provide technical assistance to the dairy-producing families that receive loans from our micro-credit program. We helped farmers make business plans as well as improve their land-use plans. We provided technical assistance in the practices that improve the health and nutrition of their dairy cows.