- A record number of project management in the history of IICA in Honduras and for having returned to the agricultural sector more than US $ 68 for every dollar invested by Honduras in the institute.
Tegucigalpa.- The representation of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), today presented its 2019-2020 Accountability Report, which highlights the management of more than 23 million dollars in agricultural projects, as well as returning to the Honduran agricultural sector more than US $ 68 for every dollar invested by the country in the institute.
The report reveals support for the administration of the Productive Solidarity Bonus (BSP), which delivered in the first 2020 cycle around 22,000 maize, bean, sorghum and fertilizer bonds and in the second season more than 44,000 maize, rice bean bonds and sorghum plus fertilizers.
The Directorate of Agricultural Science and Technology (DICTA), the National Service for Agrifood Health and Safety (SENASA) participated in this management, both directorates attached to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (SAG).
Technical assistance and administration of the Coffee Bonus were also provided, which allowed the provision of fertilizers to 91,462 producers, located in 15 departments and 222 municipalities of the country, in alliance with the Honduran Coffee Institute (IHCAFE).
During this period, the technical management and transparent administration of the funds of the Food for Progress Program (PAP) continued, which implemented nineteen (19) projects, six (6) executed by the private sector and thirteen (13) by various agencies from SAG, with financial support from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Thanks to the efforts of the producers and responsible technicians, despite the pandemic, generated by COVID 19, most of the implemented projects achieved the objectives set, said Franklin Marín, IICA representative in Honduras.
He added that actions in favor of family agriculture were supported, in order to contribute to the food and nutritional security of the families, through the generation of income.
In the case of the Knowledge Management for the Adaptation of Family Farming to Climate Change (INNOVA AF) project, 2 proposals were executed, one for IHCAFE financed for a total project value of US $ 152,550.00 with the participation of 300 families, and the other for the Comal Network for a total value of US $ 93,698.00 with the participation of 208 families.
In addition, the project Agroforestry Systems Adapted to the Central American Dry Corridor (AGROINNOVA) began, made the diagnosis and characterization of the territory, and the identification of 15 plots for the validation of technologies in models of Multi-Strat Agroforestry Systems. During the next 3 years we will be reaping the fruits of this effort for the producers of El Paraíso and Danlí.
The report presents the actions promoted in 2020 in the technical programs of Bioeconomy, Territorial Development and Family Agriculture and in Agricultural Health and Food Safety (SAIA); We also include other relevant activities, such as the Diagnosis of Water Harvesters built within the framework of the Presidential Water Harvest Program, participation in the National System of Agricultural and Forestry Extension of Honduras (SINEAFH), the Systematization of experiences in resource conservation natural resources and payment for environmental services in the Santa Isabel micro-basin, Namasigüe, as well as the agricultural painting competition in Intibucá, said the IICA representative in Honduras.
Marín also stated that achievements obtained in terms of technical cooperation provided by IICA in the 2019-2020 period to the Honduran agri-food sector were possible thanks to the trust and unconditional support of the Government of Honduras, through the Secretariat of Agriculture and Livestock (SAG).
“Thanks to the support of the Secretary of Agriculture and Livestock, Mauricio Guevara, his undersecretaries and main advisers, we have worked side by side with the excellent and committed SAG team, which has allowed us to achieve the aforementioned achievements,” the international official highlighted.
There have been many projects that have been managed throughout these 22 months between 2019 and 2020, and especially in this year of the COVID-19 pandemic and the hard blow to the Honduran agricultural sector from Hurricanes ETA and IOTA ”.
At IICA, we are grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with Honduran agriculture and are committed to continue contributing our best effort to improve the living conditions of agricultural producers and their families throughout the entire Honduran territory, Marín concluded.
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