Biointensive growers from northern, western and southern Nicaragua, from Matagalpa, Condega, Somoto, Ometepe, Los Guatuzos, Managua and Chinandega, met at the National Agrarian University (UNA) to learn how to plan their gardens and design their diets. Experts guided the 19 participants in deciding which foods they want to eat throughout the year, based on calorie intake and appropriate portions, and in planning their crops across the apante, primera, postrera and summer growing seasons. The meeting was organized by UNA, the Association for Regional Agroecological Development (ADAR) and Friends of the Earth Spain, with funding from FONTAGRO and the Regional Government of Andalusia.

The results are already visible in the field. In Condega, promoter Franck Tonduer has been growing 24 beds of 10 m² for four years; in just 240 m² they produce all the plant-based food for two people. In the Dry Corridor, INPRHU supports 480 farmers in Somoto, San Lucas, La Sabana and Totogalpa who already grow with the method. “People have enjoyed producing their own food, diversifying their crops and not using chemicals,” said Juan Carlos Espinoza, an INPRHU field technician. UNA, for its part, aims to train and certify lecturers and students in the method.

🔗 News: #ProyectoFONTAGRO: Betting on biointensive farming to improve nutrition in Nicaragua (in Spanish)
🔗 Project page (in Spanish)