Opportunities
Guatemalan agriculture benefits from the U.S.-Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR), and the United States accounts for about 40% of Guatemala’s trade. Guatemala has a range of microclimates and very varied topography. Its fertile soil allows for export crops including sugarcane, avocados, bananas, melon, berries, and vegetables. Guatemala is also renowned for its high-quality coffee exports. ILIMS will identify areas of the Strategic Institutional Plan (2021 – 2026) released by the Guatemalan Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Food that closely align with our strengths and objectives and focus on those areas.Challenges
Steep slopes in parts of Guatemala and small plots leave smallholder farmers vulnerable to rainfall irregularities, and on-farm water management is a growing priority as the climate changes. The terrain also leads to complex challenges with mechanization, and solving these is essential to boosting farm productivity with some crops. Small plots and land shortages complicate the picture.Contributing to Solutions
Assessing Conditions for Irrigation and Mechanization
ILIMS is working with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in a project on assessing irrigation and mechanization in Guatemala and Honduras, with a view towards scaling up successful practices and aligning more closely with markets. This work draws on CRS’ extensive experience in poverty alleviation and agricultural support in both countries. The project team also includes the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT).Publications and Additional Resources
English - Institutional Strategic Plan 2021 - 2026.pdfProject Partners
Catholic Relief Services - https://www.crs.org/Center for Tropical Agriculture - https://www.ifpri.org/partnership/international-center-tropical-agriculture-ciat/
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center - https://www.cimmyt.org/
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