Small farmers in Nicaragua are expected to double or triple their corn and bean production under a new program designed to help the rural poor. The program provides the small farmer with reasonable loans at 13 percent interest, technical assistance in the form of improved seed, fertilizer, insecticide, practical agricultural training and marketing facilities, as well as practical agricultural advice. Known as "INVIERNO," the program is funded by a $22.6 million contribution from the Nicaraguan Government and a $14 million loan from U.S. Agency for International Development.
More tha 2,800 campesinos who expect to increase their crop production are participating in the initial pilot project in the provinces of Matagalpa, Jinotega, and Esteli in the rugged mountains of the country's central interior.
Eventually, the program is expecting to benefit about 400,000 rural poor. The average cash income for small farmers in Nicaragua is less than $120 a year.
INVIERNO has established five Rural Assistance Centers in the central interior to serve the farmers. Each center serves communities within a nine-mile radius and has a staff of 22 agricultural specialist and assistants to help the campesino.
SPECIFIC CAPTION: El Mojn, Jinotega--Small farmers and INVIERNO representative hold meeting in back yard of campesino Juan Palacios(cente, leaning on table)
VIRIN: 150715-O-AA002-040
| Date Taken: | 07.15.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 07.21.2015 16:33 |
| Photo ID: | 2074861 |
| VIRIN: | 150715-O-AA002-040 |
| Resolution: | 2019x1614 |
| Size: | 1.68 MB |
| Location: | NI |
| Web Views: | 46 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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