Under its 2015 Call for Proposals, FONTAGRO approved the project “Biointensive farming for rural families in the Dry Corridor” (FTG/RF-15459-RG), led by Friends of the Earth Spain (Amigos de la Tierra España) together with the Institute for Human Development in Somoto (INPRHU, Nicaragua), Nicaragua’s National Agrarian University (UNA), the National Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH) and the Pespire Development Association (ADEPES, Honduras). With an investment of USD 1,000,930, including USD 400,000 from FONTAGRO, the three-year initiative will benefit more than 1,200 farmers, 55% of them women and 38% young people, in 93 communities across 12 municipalities.

Biointensive agriculture, tested in more than 140 countries over more than 40 years, consists of ecological practices in small spaces: deep soil preparation, water harvesting and drip irrigation, natural fertilizers, crop rotation and local seeds. The project will carry out participatory assessments and training, strengthen six biointensive agroecological centres, validate drought-resistant vegetable and staple grain varieties, and promote community seed banks, so that families can produce more food and better adapt to a changing climate.

🔗 News: Innovations for climate change adaptation of rural families in the Dry Corridor (in Spanish)
🔗 Project page (in Spanish)
📄 Project proposal (PDF, in Spanish)