Smallholder farmers in Honduras are increasingly vulnerable to climate change. ILIMS works to expand smallholder farmer resiliency by scaling suitable irrigation and mechanization technologies for the region,
Opportunities
In the early twentieth century bananas were a key agricultural export, but exports have diversified since then and now include coffee, tobacco, and sugarcane. Corn is also widely grown.
Challenges
Honduras is one of the poorest countries in Central America and the economy depends primarily on agriculture – a sector that employs about two fifths of the labor force. About 12.7% of Hondurans live on $2.15 per day or less, down from about 26% in 2003. Honduras is vulnerable to extremes of weather, including droughts and hurricanes. Hurricane Mitch destroyed about 70% of Honduras’ crops in 1998, for example. Slash-and-burn agriculture still takes place in parts of Honduras as landless farmers seek opportunities.
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
Project 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/
Data from the World Bank data portal, US Feed the Future, FAO, IFAD, the US Trade Administration, and others
(The World Bank’s poverty threshold (“international poverty line”) is $2.15/person/day or less.)
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