With its population doubling in the past 25 years—now reaching over 18 million—Guatemala continues to struggle with its agricultural production, negatively impacting people’s livelihoods. This number is forecasted to double in the next quarter century, posing threats to exacerbate persistent problems such as chronic malnutrition that affects nearly half of the children under age five in the country.
The outcome of the civil war that transpired from 1963 to 1996, as well as decades of corruption, brought the aforementioned challenges. The conflict not only polarized society but also damaged infrastructure and aggravated poverty in Guatemala. One of the changes post-war that had a far-reaching impact was the National Rural Extension System’s (SNER) suspension in 1996.
The SNER’s program was pivotal to farmers increasing their productivity and incomes, as it helped them receive informal training, market access, and technical aid from extension agents (e.g., agronomists). Unfortunately, Latin American governments favored market-driven approaches in the 1990s. Guatemala was not exempted. The SNER was eventually suspended, worsening issues like hunger and child malnutrition in the country.
Counterpart International made it its mission to address the agricultural-driven problems in Guatemala by helping indigenous and rural farmers. Since its foundation nearly 60 years ago, Counterpart has partnered with communities and organizations to ensure individuals thrive in inclusive and sustainable communities.
With a portfolio encompassing efforts in agricultural development, education, and food security, establishing the Food for Progress project or PROCAMPO in 2012 is yet another breakthrough in contributing to broader sustainable developments employing community-driven approaches. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) funded the initiative, assisting Counterpart in turning its vision of improving Guatemala’s agricultural productivity and boosting the local people’s income and livelihoods into reality.
Multiple local and international organizations—including the University of California Davis (UC Davis), the National University of San Carlos (USAC), Guatemalan Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Food (MAGA), Federación Nacional de Cooperativas de Guatemala (MICOOPE), and Asociación Nacional del Café (Anacafé)—partnered with Counterpart to help local farmers increase production through sustainable techniques.
PROCAMPO ran until 2016. The program was extended until September 2024, thanks to its remarkable success in providing scalable solutions to uplifting communities. It has remained committed to collaborating with all stakeholders, from the farmers and local organizations to the Guatemalan government, to strengthen the sector throughout its duration.
Maria Ester Bucaro, Counterpart’s Chief of Party, has governed PROCAMPO for over six years. The program’s success can be partly attributed to her ability to leverage her vast experience in agricultural and food security programs and apply them while shaping the Food for Progress project’s initiatives. It’s worth mentioning that the seasoned professional is one of the first women to spearhead an agricultural program in Guatemala. She efficiently worked with international universities and high-ranking officials to enforce the rural extension system.
PROCAMPO revolved around six activities. First was the re-establishment of the SNER and the creation of the only academic training program in Guatemala focused on agricultural extension services. These aligned with Counterpart’s goal to produce well-trained extension agents that can aid farmers with advanced agricultural practices, techniques, and technologies.
Invigorating the capacity of agricultural producer groups (i.e., associations, coffee growers, cooperatives, rural development learning centers, etc.) was also one of the activities. Counterpart acknowledges that these groups were integral in technical aid to smallholder farmers. PROCAMPO, therefore, ensured farmers received the necessary training and support to improve their agricultural practices, gain higher yields, and meet market standards.
In addition, the Food for Progress project provided capacity-building grants like agricultural inputs, on-farm equipment, and technical services to meticulously chosen producer groups. In partnership with micro-credit unions like MICOOPE, it offered loans that enabled farmers to purchase equipment or invest in their farms.
The program also implemented trade promotion activities to improve agricultural products’ marketability. Farmers were able to acquire certifications, join trade shows, and engage with buyers through these activities. Last but not least, the Food for Progress project trained extension agents in farm management and agricultural practices to later train agricultural promoters in the local community.
“We always champion a holistic approach,” Bucaro states. “For PROCAMPO, instead of keeping track of the number of people who attended our training, we thoroughly monitored them to determine if they gained the knowledge needed. We often returned to the field to confirm if they were applying what they learned. Doing this allowed us to know what worked and did not work. We then made sure to understand the reason behind the latter. We take pride in learning from the farmers because it’s them who knows what they need. Mutual learning is one of the cores of what we do because it enables us to show our respect for the farmers while learning how to better approach them.”
Overall, PROCAMPO impacted 469 local organizations and over 48,500 producers. Producers were able to enter niche markets as they improved the quality and value of their products. Over 2,900 jobs were created thanks to this, demonstrating the project’s success in contributing to sustainability in rural areas and, in turn, economic growth.
Another significant accomplishment is the Certificate Rural Extension Program witnessing the graduation of over 400 extension agents. They were able to offer essential support to farmers after earning qualification to work for the private sector or the Ministry of Agriculture.
Moreover, the Food for Progress project founded 2,460 rural development learning centers and provided 85 in-kind grants and 106 cash grants to farmers. Over 10,095 granted loans also helped farmers expand their operations. The program also trained 37,624 producers to upgrade the quality of their products and boost their yields.
Ultimately, Guatemala’s PROCAMPO project illustrates the massive impact of laser-focused agricultural solutions that prioritize steering economic growth and enhancing rural populations’ quality of life. Its all-encompassing approach transformed the lives of thousands of farmers and their communities, helping them build resilience and pave the path toward success and prosperity.
