Rubena Amaya, a Lencan farmer planting potatoes in an experimental farm plot in Intibuca. IDRC photo: K. Taboulchanas

 

ANAFAE (the National Association for the Promotion of Ecological Agriculture) is a network of 25 non-governmental organizations and farmer associations interested in the promotion and application of ecological agriculture practices. The Association’s mandate is to improve the exchange of information and enhance learning among member organizations about good practices for ecological agriculture in Honduras.

 

 The project will support the work of ANAFAE in learning about and promoting sound ecological agriculture practices as alternatives to the use of agrochemicals in Honduras. In Western Honduras, there are approximately 4,000 potato producers and 6,000 vegetable producers who use high levels of agrochemicals as agriculture inputs. The indiscriminate use of agrochemicals has led to the contamination of people, soils and water sources, causing health problems in the rural population of the region. In Southern Honduras, the last 20 years has seen prolonged droughts, leading to substantial losses in production and, as a consequence, in the food security of rural campesino families.

 

The project will strengthen the capacity of ANAFAE and its membership to carry out participatory research on issues related to ecological agriculture. In particular, participatory research will be carried out with local men and women farmers to identify i) feasible alternatives to the use of agrochemicals for potato and vegetable production in Western Honduras, and ii) realistic options for agriculture production in drought-affected Southern Honduras.  ANAFAE will explore and adapt a hybrid model of local farmer agriculture research commitees (CIALs- Comites de Investigacion Agricola Local) and farmer field schools (ECA- Escuela de Campo). Expected outcomes from the application of the research include a reduction in the use of agrochemicals among farmers in Western Honduras, the development and adaptation of alternative technologies to address drought conditions in Southern Honduras, the implementation of participatory methodologies among a significant number of ANAFAE members, and the integration of research into membership activity.