Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security
To ensure food security in a region vulnerable to climate change and disruptions in supply chain networks, Asociación Mangle has been working for decades to train local farmers in agroecological practices. These practices, by reducing the need for harmful agrochemicals, protect and support both the health of the mangrove ecosystem and the health of the communities that rely on its resources. Decades of monoculture (namely sugar and corn) have contaminated local water sources and destroyed the viability of the soil, as well as contributed to the region having one of the highest incidences of kidney disease in the world.
Pilot agroecological projects in the region have shown tremendous promise and success at responding to and addressing the vulnerabilities of local communities. By approaching agriculture through an ecosystem lens, emphasizing the importance of the entire ecosystem in the cultivation of food crops, agroecology not only ensures sustainable food systems for local communities, but can be a powerful vehicle for revitalizing the health of the surrounding ecosystem. These tools and methods have been shown to revitalize depleted soil, improve crop yields and quality, and support increased biodiversity in local ecosystems.
An example of this is the case of Señor Pedro Guerrero, who took a small parcel of land rendered fallow by high levels of salinity in the soil after repeated flooding and turned it into a biodiverse model of agroecology. With training and assistance from Asociación Mangle, Señor Guerrero grows plantains, maize, cacao, rice, mangos, passionfruit, and other fruits and vegetables in microbe-rich, organic soil on his 2-hectare plot of land. From this effort he is able to feed his family and provide a modest income by selling his surplus locally.
Jiquilisco Bay Alliance aims to provide financial support to these projects, thus increasing their reach and allowing our community partners to train more local farmers in agroecological practices. Support this work here!
