Emphasizing multi-story forests and mixed plots, subsistence farmers working with SHI-Belize have increased their efforts to plant cacao, a major cash crop in the Toledo and Stann Creek Districts. The cacao seedlings being planted are still at least three years from their first harvest, but when they mature the wet beans will be sold to the local cacao cooperative Toledo Cacao Grower’s Association (TCGA), as well as Moho Cocoa.

During the last quarter of the fiscal year, participant families:
• planted 1,180 trees
• installed 59 composting eco-toilets
• cultivated 67 acres using sustainable and organic techniques
• organized 42 community training workshops attended by 154 families who would like to work with SHI in the future.

At the conclusion of the fiscal year, program participants had planted 12,687 trees, reforested approximately 50 acres, and managed more than 300 acres sustainably and organically.

Currently more Honduran families have entered the third and fourth phases of our program than any other country. Ninety-one rural farmers and families are now diversifying their crops with pineapple, cassava, coffee and plantains for commercialization.

SHI-Honduras recently hosted a Partners for the America volunteer, whose ongoing work will strengthen the program’s efforts to improve local ecosystems. Together they will be taking measures to rehabilitate and protect vital water sources in the many communities where we work.

Some results during the last quarter and fiscal year include:
• 40,782 trees planted (including coffee seedlings)
• 70 acres being cultivated sustainably and organically
• 1,000 liters of bio-fertilizers & foliar fertilizers produced and applied
• $4,200 in additional income generated by 64 families
• 12 educational / training workshops held.

During the last fiscal year, SHI-Honduras participants planted more than 78,000 trees, cultivated 235 acres sustainably and generated $13,198 in income through sale of harvests and value-added products.

Though constantly faced with the challenges of excessive rain, degraded soils and remoteness, SHI participants in Nicaragua’s unique South Atlantic Autonomous Region are making headway to improve their livelihoods and build healthy soils and ecosystems. Forty-five families working with SHI from the remote districts of Kukra RIver and Kukra Hill travel to the region’s capital, Bluefields once or twice a month. With SHI’s support, the group is working together to market their harvests and improve their business skills.

From April - June 2011, participant families:
• planted 9,275 trees
• started 21 new vermiculture (worm casting) projects
• converted 12 acres to organic and sustainable agriculture
• started 14,566 seedlings in a nursery.

By the close of fiscal year 2011, participating families planted a total of 22,970 trees.

Though climate conditions have hampered yields during the past fiscal year, farmers continued to market their crops within their communities and to SHI-Panama partner Culantro Rojo. Nearly $5,000 in produce was sent to Culantro Rojo, providing families in Panama City with healthy and sustainable food choices, and providing SHI participants in rural communities such as San Pedro and Tranquilla with access to markets and income.

In April, SHI-Panama field trainers and farmers participated in a workshop on biointensive agriculture, composting and seed saving.Following the workshop, staff and participants replicated what they learned, and now 50% of SHI-Panama farmers are adopting the biointensive methodology.

During the last quarter of the fiscal year, SHI-Panama: 
• planted 1,600 trees and reforested 2 acres
• installed 18 DAMAK wood-conserving stoves
• trained an additional 25 farming families in biointensive agriculture
• opened a new rural bank in El Entradero.

At the conclusion of the fiscal year, participants had paid back more than $2,000 in micro-loans, increased income by 26% and trained 551 friends and neighbors in the techniques they learned working with SHI.

The first models of the “Justa” wood-conserving stove were introduced to SHI-Panama in 2007 following a staff training in Honduras, where they learned about its benefits, design and construction. SHI-Panama Field Trainer Diomedes Arrocha dedicated a lot of time to the construction of the “Justa” stove model, but he began to introduce some changes since the original model was costly due to the amount of metal used, such as the thick iron griddle, metal chimney and grill.