After participating in a Farmer Field School (FFS) implemented by ACDI/VOCA in Ventanas County, 50 farmers decided to form an association. The group had a lot of ideas they wanted to implement and they felt they could accomplish more if they worked together. Their first undertaking was to develop a community nursery. They constructed a 300 sq. meter fence using wood remnants from all of their properties, and began preparing potting soil using a formula they learned at the FFS. They also requested and received assistance from the SUCCESS Alliance program to purchase 12,000 bags and a roll of saran for use as a nursery shade cover.

The group’s collaboration and hard work has already paid off. Each of the members will receive 250 plants from the nursery to improve their farms and their example has piqued the interest of other farmers in the area.

The nursery established by association members.