Project Director Armando Astorga and Sr. Extensionist Julio Lopez discuss integrating the Seeds Program in diverse communities.
Creating Sustainable Food Security
For many generations, rural Guatemalan communities have faced:
- Food insecurity
- Chronic malnutrition
- Physical stunting and cognitive impairment
While these factors have created a cascade of challenges with few long-term solutions, the Seeds for a Future Program has emerged as a reliable and effective methodology for sustainable food security and self-reliance.
Seed for a Future’s Main Components for Creating Sustainable Food Security:
• Permaculture Gardens - Extensionists train and mentor families for one year, sharing Permaculture and regenerative farming techniques for growing nutrition and healthy foods that can be mixed into traditional recipes.
• Small Animal Production - Extensionists train and demonstrate best practices for raising chickens, rabbits, and other small animals, which provide critical protein resources for physical growth, cognitive development, and improved overall health.
• Composting - Composting training allows appropriate household waste to improve garden soil and sustainability.
• Access to Potable Water - Leading-edge, affordable water filters curtail severe illnesses; not boiling water reduces deforestation and generates less smoke.
• Climate Flexibility - vital for maintaining year-round production in diverse and changing climates.
“We like Seeds for a Future very much because it
does not just give things, but it teaches us.”
What Makes a Sustainable Food-Security Program Succeed?
Immediate food aid can be critical in emergencies and ongoing unrest, while a long-term, sustainable food security program provides consistent access to nutritious food, better health, and increased economic opportunities for generations to come.
Effective long-term programs build a foundation for sustained familial and community knowledge creating stable platforms for generational resilience and self-reliance.
We've Learned that Sustainable Food Security Programs Typically Include All of These Elements:
- Long-Term Focus – Ensuring families and communities can consistently produce much of their own food, allowing for improved nutrition, consistent food availability, reduced chronic illnesses, and increased economic opportunities.
- Community Engagement and Ownership – Communities involved in their food security decisions and production become more resilient and sustaining with increased health and opportunities.
- Sustainability – Permaculture practices and small animal production provide reliable nutritional sources, especially for mothers and infants.
- Education – Nutrition training, such as the First 1,000 Days training for mothers and infants, in concurrence with overall health and hygiene training, provides a multi-generation knowledge base for healthier, self-reliant lives.
- Economic Empowerment – Excess production of fruits, vegetables, and poultry can be sold locally. A double win, families spend less money on food while profiting from their own resources.
- Gender Equality – Women are empowered to produce nutritious food for their families while often having the opportunity to sell the excess, creating micro-business opportunities.
- Potable Water Access - Safe, clean water prevents illness and maintains good health.
- Monitoring, Evaluation, and Adaptability – What is watched grows. Clear metrics track progress, and participant feedback allows a program to flex and sustain.
To connect with us about the Seeds for a Future Program, Contact Us.
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