Climate change has been one of the biggest challenges for farmers in Nicaragua in the past few years and will only become worse as we move forward. With your generous support, farmers like Miguel are better able to feed their families despite the variable climate.

The way Miguel and his family used to live was hard. “We had to ration food. We only grew corn, beans, yucca, and malanga.”

Climate change has only made life more difficult for families like Miguel’s. Rural farmers depend on good climate conditions to grow their crops.

The rain patterns over the past few years have not been consistent, which means extreme droughts and flooding as the dry season becomes dryer and the rainy season becomes rainier.

Some families, like Miguel’s, deal with this by rationing food and not eating three meals a day. Others are forced to leave their families, homes, and communities in search of a job, which separates families for long periods of time.

YOU are helping change this challenging situation by helping families produce enough to feed their families despite climate change.

You teach farmers to use organic and sustainable agricultural techniques to enrich the soil which means families harvest more food. They have enough to eat and even to sell. A few techniques that families learn include:

• Saving seeds from previous harvests to prevent having to buy seeds every year.
• Building water capturing system to water their crops during the dry season.
• Making and using organic compost, fertilizer, and pesticides instead of purchasing harsh chemicals.
• Conserving soil by using live and dead barriers to prevent soil erosion.
• Using irrigation systems to use water efficiently and effectively.

Thanks to your support, Miguel’s family no longer has to ration food. “Today we are thankful to CEPAD because the food is better. We are able to harvest more produce and plant a variety of seeds.”

In addition to harvesting more food, Miguel is now eating pineapples, oranges, banana, nispero (a Japanese plum), and plantains.

Miguel has a message for you. “A thousand thank you’s. Our way of life has improved greatly. My whole family has also become involved with our crops, which means we have deeper relationships since we’re working together.” 

Thank you for helping protect the climate in Nicaragua and empowering rural farmers like Miguel!