Technicians Agriculture
  We are Marvin, Omar and Paulina, agronomists that have recently joined COMADEP. We help with agricultural projects that are being carried out with small farmers in the rural areas of the northern state of Petén.

Right now we are helping farmers to organize their agricultural activities in a better manner and in the near future we will do marketing projects, so these farmers can sell their harvest for a better price.

Marvin is currently working in a cattle project. He hopes that the participants will have more work and more income and that in the future the project will continue without the assistance of COMADEP.

   
Paulina works in a pineapple project and hopes the participants can add a higher value to their production. In the initial phase of the project, each participant will obtain 4.000 pineapples which will be sold for a relative good price. The farmers want to industrialize part of the harvest. By canning juices and by making marmelade they can sell at a price that is at least five time as much as the cost price.

Omar has been working for over a year in two beehiving projects with in total 300 hives that are owned by 30 people. This activity is very important in the Petén because in a way the project prevents the cutting of trees. Farmers in Petén used to slash and burn the forests in order to grow maize and beans. With this activity people are contributing to the conservation of the flora and fauna of Petén since now it is in their interest to preserve the forests.. Another important advantage of beehiving is that honey is a very profitable product that counts with a secure market.

Technician Marvin is closing the sale
of 60 cows for a cattle project
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The technician is going through
the details of the projects
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We hope that the persons participating in our projects in the near future will be able to raise their life standards, offering a better education to their children, being more involved in the actions of the local governments and more able to protect exisiting natural resources. We carry out our projects without ignoring the social environment, growing more awareness among the beneficiaries.
Huge parts of the jungle in Petén are being burned down. COMADEP offers alternatives to the small farmers
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We consider our work here at COMADEP very important at the social level as well as at the economic level. It is very satisfying to be able to put into practice our knowledge, benefitting the farmers. The majority of them have been struck severely by the armed conflict and for the most part are still being abandoned

The work gives us a great opportunity to help our country to overcome the underdevelopment that we are still in. We do this by implementing alternative production techniques, diversifying crops, fostering participation and by creating employment opportunities..

For example: groups that first grew only maize and beans are now starting to grow non- traditional crops. With the production of maize and beans the farmers hardly recovered their investments; whereas now they manage to obtain small profits.

By growing awareness COMADEP is contributing to the protection of the last vonourable flora and fauna of Petén
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Read about the experiences of agricultural projects
 
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www.comadep.org
Constructed by:
Cinemotion Rising Art
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