A Good Year Despite the Pandemic
George is a community promoter who has been with the Rio Coco program since 2017. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, he says, “I feel that I have been very blessed. I’ve had food in the house, income from the sale of rice and other produce, and the security of a farm and a home for my family.”
Program activities were paused for a time as some of the staff members of local partner AMC became sick with COVID-19 in early 2020. Now the program has resumed, and in-person training has begun anew.
On his own 75-acre farm, George puts into practice all the farming techniques he’s learned and shared with others over the years. He’s had a successful year growing beans, rice, other basic grains, vegetables and various types of bananas. He had an excellent rice crop and, by selling vegetables and bananas as well, was able to benefit his community with locally-available produce.
Toward the end of the year, he participated in a “pass-on-the-gift” livestock program. He received a pregnant pelibuey, a type of sheep that is well-suited to the tropics and grows hair rather than wool. George has already gifted one of her offspring to another family. He says, “This will help me provide protein for my family and supply other producers, so we’ll have a sustainable source of meat within the community.”
Nicaragua Rio Coco Program
Led by World Renew and Local Partner Acción Médica Cristiana (AMC)