Coffee Kids 2013 Food Security Project Reports by Coffee Kids

2013 Food Security Final Reports

Table of Contents

Food Security through Pig Rearing in Peru The Tabaconas Valley Organic Producers Association (APROVAT) ......................................................... 2

Agricultural Innovation through Heritage Seeds and Practices in Mexico The Advice and Rural Services Center (ASER MAIZ) ............................................................................. 12

Community Participation in Food Security (Stage Two) in Mexico San Juan Colorado Sustainable Development Council (CDS) ............................................................... 22

Productive Investment in Food Security (Stage One: Rainwater Harvesting) in Mexico The Association of Rural Development and the Environment (DERMAC) ............................................. 31

2013 Final Report

Project: Food Security through Pig Rearing Partner: The Tabaconas Valley Organic Producers Association (APROVAT) Program Area: Food Security

Please do not hesitate to contact us for further information pertaining to this Coffee Kids project

APROVAT - Food Security through Pig Rearing

Food Security through Pig Rearing in Tabaconas, Peru

Program Partner: The Tabaconas Valley Organic Producers Association (APROVAT) Program Area: Food Security Project Participants: 152 women from 12 communities; 600 beneficiaries Project Duration: January 2013 – December 2013

The Project • Established one community-run demonstrative pig stall for training, implementation of new technologies, and meat production for household and market • Provided the startup cost for 50 small-scale household pens (some of which are shared between households) • Provided participants with training as well as technical and educational support in pig rearing and breeding • Will continue to pass piglets on to new families as the pigs reproduce • Will continue to grow with Phase II in 2014 The increased availability of meat through the rearing of domesticated pigs has not only helped families better meet their nutritional needs, but has begun to supply supplementary income as surplus meat is sold.

The Partner Founded: 1997 Coffee Kids partner since: 2009 Successes since working with Coffee Kids: • 2009 – 10: Coffee Kids worked with APROVAT to establish their first community grocery store. The store continues to improve access to nutritious, reasonably priced food to the wider community and accrues funds that will go toward establishing stores in additional communities. • 2010 – 11: The Organic Garden and Diversification of Production project, funded by Coffee Kids, began to provide participants and the APROVAT community with valuable income and nutritious food. The original 50 participating families continue to produce healthy food for themselves and to sell. Since then, even more women have been inspired to start their own gardens using their own resources. The project is integrated with APROVAT’s community grocery store, which receives surplus produce from APROVAT’s communal plot and buys additional produce from individual members.

APROVAT - Food Security through Pig Rearing

• 2011 – 12: Coffee Kids helped start APROVAT’s microcredit and savings program, the Women’s Microcredit Initiative. The project has grown significantly to incorporate the participation of 335 women from 10 communities. Individual savings generated through this project helped purchase a portion of the materials necessary to build the pigpens for the Food Security through Pig Rearing project. • 2013 – present: Phase II of the Food Security through Pig Rearing project (2014) builds upon the progress made by Phase I in 2013 by setting up a breeding and artificial insemination center where participants can obtain an improved breed of pig yielding 30 kilograms more (66 pounds or an increase of about 30%), in an 8-month period, which is when a pig is ready to be butchered. The project will reach 140 women and 77 girls from 14 communities and at least 450 additional beneficiary families. • From 2009 to present: The projects carried out by APROVAT and supported by Coffee Kids have increased participants’ access to higher quality, more varied and more affordable food. During this time, APROVAT and Coffee Kids have developed a strong partnership, currently focused on strengthening project sustainability. Future plans include bolstering APROVAT’s planning and sustainability as an organization and potentially working with APROVAT as a strategic ally, assisting in providing training and capacity building to other partners.

The Need • Local diets lack sufficient protein. Integration of animal protein production in the family farm shows strategic potential for reducing malnutrition while also generating income from the sale of surplus meat. • Pig rearing was chosen as pigs are easy to keep and rear and are a good source of both protein and animal fat. Furthermore, there is a strong local preference for pork, so surplus meat will easily find a market. However, people don’t tend to raise pigs because they are thought of as dirty. The project focuses on sanitary means of raising pigs to debunk the myth of the pig as a dirty animal. Project coordinators see potential to expand the project in coming years. • The breeds chosen for this project have a good feed-input to protein-output ratio and, unlike much other livestock, can subsist primarily on organic waste from the kitchen garden and kitchen table and secondary waste from agricultural production. Thus the cost of care is reduced compared to other domesticated animals.

Project Participants

Communities 12

Participants Women

TOTAL

152

APROVAT - Food Security through Pig Rearing

The Results Schedule of activities: Objective (description)

Activity

Scheduled

Current status

Construction of demonstrative pig stall

January – February 2013

Completed March 2013 *

January – December 2013

Completed April – July 2013

Purchase dietary supplements for pigs and a first aid veterinary kit

January – February 2013

Completed March 2013 *

54 piglets (2.5 months old) acquired: these will be used for the production of meat and for reproduction

February – March 2013

Exceeded 55 sows and 2 boars acquired

Educational exchange and training for promoters

March 2013

Completed March 2013

Training for 152 women participating in the project (9 workshops in total throughout the year)

January – October 2013

Completed Started April 2013 and completed November 2013

Technical assistance through regularly scheduled visits by technicians

January – December 2013

Completed Started April 2013 and completed December 2013

Distribution of piglets to new project participants

2014

On schedule

50 household-based stalls built **

Project implementation

Project followup

* Late fund transfer put project schedule slightly behind schedule. ** Due to late arrival of funds and an increase in the cost of materials, 46 household pens were constructed. Achievements: • 1 community-run demonstrative pig stall was established. The model stall measures 130 meters² and consists of 10 compartments. 9 of these will serve as nurseries for piglets and are equipped with automatic feeders and water fountains. The final compartment will be used to store supplies and feed. The model stall is built with sufficient drainage, electricity and tanks for water storage and wastewater. • 46 household pig stalls1 were built, measuring 8 meters each. They were made using locally sourced materials (wood and palm) and equipped with water and drainage tanks and two automatic watering systems. • 55 sows and 2 boars were bought and transferred from Jaén (some 4 hours traveling distance from the center of Tamborapa Pueblo, Tabaconas, where the model pens are located). 1 The original plan included the construction of 50 household stalls. However, due to an increase in cost of materials between the the time of the proposal and the (late) receipt of funds, APROVAT was only able to construct 46 pens.

APROVAT - Food Security through Pig Rearing

• 46 women signed agreements to receive 46 piglets. Terms included that 1 resulting piglet would be passed on to a new participating family. • 11 piglets will be raised in the community-run demonstrative pig stall. • In the demonstrative pig stall, 2 male breeding pigs currently provide semen and 55% (5/9) of sows are pregnant. Of the 46 pigs in the household pig stalls, 9 sows are currently pregnant and the remainder are not yet of the age to be inseminated. Thus, the distribution of piglets to new project participants is on track for 2014. • 152 people in total attended 3 workshops on pig rearing and management. • Educational and technical pamphlets covering pig breeds and rearing were produced and distributed among participants.

Key indicators for project objective: Increase food security • Since implementing APROVAT’s community grocery store (2009 – 10) and their Organic Garden and Diversification of Production project (2011 – 12), strong advances in food security have become apparent. • 2 surveys, Months of Adequate Household Food Provisioning (MAHFP) and Dietary Diversity, were conducted with participants in April 2012 and again in April 2013. The following observations were made in comparing results from the two surveys: MAHFP: April 2012 (survey of 80 participants) 100% of participants said they did not have enough food to meet their family’s needs 5 months out of the year: January, February, March, April and May.

April 2013 (survey of 110 participants) 100% of participants said they did not have enough food to meet their family’s needs 4 months out of the year: January, February, March and April.

Observation The number of months in which participants experienced food insecurity was reduced from 5 months in April 2012 to 4 months in April 2013.

Dietary Diversity: Type of food consumed at least once a week

Percentage of participants that have consumed the item at least once during the past 7 days April 2012

April 2013

% change

Any bread, rice, noodles, tortillas, or any other food made from corn, rice, wheat, sorghum, millet, quinoa or any other local grain?

100%

No change

Any potatoes, yams, yucca, manioc, cassava, or any other foods made from roots or tubers?

100%

No change

Any vegetables?

40%

80%

+40%

Any fruits?

70%

No change

APROVAT - Food Security through Pig Rearing

Any chicken, beef, pork, lamb, goat, rabbit, wild game, duck or other birds, liver, kidney, heart, or other organ meats?

15%

No change

Any eggs?

20%

40%

+20%

Any fresh or dried fish or shellfish?

No change

Any foods made from beans, peas, lentils or nuts?

No change

Any cheese, yogurt, milk or other milk products?

15%

25%

+10%

Any foods made with oil, fat or butter?

20%

No change

Any sugar, honey or sweets (cookies, etc.)?

50%

40%

-10%

Any other foods such as condiments, coffee or tea?

100%

No change

Consumption of pork produced by project participants will begin in February and March 2014. Thus, any increase in meat consumption will become apparent in the April 2014 survey. Additional information: • Prior to the establishment of the community store in 2009, dairy products were scarce and not consumed very often. After 2009, however, participants reported an increase in dairy consumption, thanks to the store offering canned and powdered milk at an affordable price. • Before 2010, only 10% of participants reported consumption of fresh vegetables. Since 2010, thanks to the Organic Garden and Diversification of Production project, participants began to produce their own fresh vegetables. In April 2012, 40% of participants reported they consumed fresh vegetables and this number further increased to 80% in April 2013.

Additional outcomes: • Participating families have increased both their overall awareness of food security in their community and their social commitment thanks to this project, according to project coordinators. • Women have shown great interest in increasing their knowledge and skills during the project meetings and training sessions. • The community-run pig stall is a demonstration center for training and genetic improvement, encouraging innovations in livestock management to be gestated locally. • Native plant species in danger of extinction are now being cultivated to provide a balanced diet for the pigs. Additionally, secondary agricultural waste and kitchen scraps provide 80 to 100% of the pigs’ diet in the household units.

APROVAT - Food Security through Pig Rearing

Capacity Building Goals, Challenges & Lessons Learned Goal #1: Provide support in the negotiation with local authorities for necessary permits APROVAT was able to secure the interest and participation of local authorities who have helped participating families procure the necessary sanitary permits for the family-run pigpens. This is a significant achievement as it safeguards against unexpected problems. It also paves the way for Phase II of the project in 2014 by setting precedents that will facilitate project expansion. Goal #2: Strengthen teamwork among project participants and APROVAT’s leadership Over the past 5 years, APROVAT, with the support of Coffee Kids, has been active in building members’ capacities and deepening their engagement with staff, directors and projects. Project participants currently serve on 4 permanent APROVAT committees: Microcredit, Community Grocery Store, Pig Rearing, and Oversight. This measure has created greater continuity in project design, implementation and impact and has enabled APROVAT leadership and project participants to work more effectively toward a common goal. For example, señora Carmen Elena Vargas has been a long-time member of APROVAT and began working with the Organic Gardens and Diversification of Production project in 2010. She is now in charge of the project, in addition to serving on the Microcredit Committee along with 4 other female members of APROVAT. In her work, señora Carmen has created internal regulations guiding APROVAT’s diversification of production projects, including the current, multi-phase Food Security though Pig Rearing project. Señora Carmen is a clear example of an APROVAT member and project participant who has gradually taken on more responsibility in the organization, strengthening the projects from within and ensuring their longterm continuance.

Goal #3: Develop the administrative capacity of other APROVAT staff members APROVAT is a well-established organization and is currently carrying out its 4th project with Coffee Kids’ support. However, the organization has relied too much on a single person to guide and administer the projects. Coffee Kids has been active in working to further develop key skills among potential leaders within APROVAT, among both staff and members. APROVAT’s involvement in the Organizational Strengthening and Exchange Series workshop in Oaxaca in October 2013 was essential in helping to develop skills and knowledge among staff and leadership of the organization. Specifically, APROVAT attendees reiterated how the workshop helped them expand their knowledge, get feedback, and reduce uncertainty and risks associated with the management of their projects. APROVAT now reports that they feel they have the tools and knowledge necessary to improve planning and monitoring and evaluation of their projects.

APROVAT - Food Security through Pig Rearing

APROVAT: Most Significant Change stories “After the training with APROVAT … I have learned that in order to raise healthy pigs, they need a clean stall with a concrete floor that is easy to clean.” Name: Delmira Jaimes Meza Age: 49 Community: Yuscapampa “I have always had to work hard to provide food for my family. When my husband started working in Chiclayo [about 8 hours away] during a good part of the year, I had to learn how to grow food for my family. In the past, I bought most of my vegetables. Now, thanks to the organic garden project APROVAT began 3 years ago, I’m growing my own vegetables. I grow enough for my whole family, and I even sell some to neighbors and to APROVAT’s grocery store. “I was glad that APROVAT wanted to do a project with pigs this year. In this region, pork is one of our main protein sources along with guinea pigs. But we call our pigs ‘lard pigs,’ because they don’t grow a lot and don’t provide us with enough meat. For example, the pig that I bought last year should be twice the size he is now because he eats a lot, but he’s still very small. “We’ve raised pigs in this region for many years. But after the training with APROVAT, I see that we were doing things wrong. For example, I’ve learned that in order to raise healthy pigs, they need a clean stall with a concrete floor that is easy to clean. I used to feed my pigs lots of corn, but now I know that they can eat a wider variety of foods, such as banana leaves, fruits, spoiled vegetables from my garden, and a soup made from molasses, corn and grains that APROVAT taught us to make. “I take this project seriously. I know that if I follow all the advice that the APROVAT technicians give me, I should have healthy [grown] pigs in the near future. If everything goes well, I should get 6 to 8 piglets. I plan to sell all but 2 of them. I will use 1 for meat and keep the other so it can reproduce again. I plan to sell the rest of the piglets, and since the piglets are a mix between Duroc and Pietrain breeds, I will be able to sell them for about $65 USD each.”

APROVAT - Food Security through Pig Rearing

“Sometimes you just need a different viewpoint or someone else to show you how to do things differently, for the better.” Name: Elba Luz Peña Mesones Age: 40 Community: Tamborapa “My husband and I used to care for pigs. We had to stop because our daughter who lives in Jaén got sick, and we moved there to care for her. Raising pigs is a good way to earn extra money and have plenty of meat. Pigs are easy to care for and if you want, you can sell them live or process them yourself. We used to go to the city and buy 2 pigs every year, fatten them up, sell one and eat the other one. We used to sell the pigs for about $250 USD. Our pigs sold for more because they were mixed with pure breeds. People in this region prefer the meat from those pigs because they say it tastes better. “I decided to be part of this project because I wanted to raise pigs again. I believe that it is very important to be able to grow our own food, not only because we’ve always done it, but because we spend less money than buying from a store or from a market. Our community is at least 2 or 3 hours away from the closest city, so all the food that arrives here is not very fresh and it is usually expensive. “This project is not just about raising pigs, it’s about raising them correctly. Before the project, our idea of raising pigs was to tie them to a tree and feed them until they were ready to be sold or processed for meat. But since I’ve started this project, I’ve learned that it takes more to raise healthy pigs that will yield plenty of meat. The first thing I had to do was build a stall with a concrete floor. I never thought little changes like this could make such a big difference in the pig’s health. We used to have to give expensive antibiotics to our pigs, but since we have this new stall, the pigs are healthy. “My husband and I will continue raising pigs because we like them and because they provide us with nourishment. If we take good care of them, they will take care of us. I guess sometimes you just need a different viewpoint or someone else to show you how to do things differently, for the better.”

APROVAT - Food Security through Pig Rearing

“[My father] used to tell us that how we treated [pigs] would determine how they would pay us back … Today, I am following in my father’s footsteps.” Name: Teofila Campos Chanta Age: 66 Community: Tabaconas “I have fond childhood memories of my father raising pigs. He used to have a basic stall in our backyard where he would keep the pigs. He would feed them kitchen scraps and feed that he would bring from Jaén (about 5 hours away). I remember that my father cared for the pigs like they were his children. He used to tell us that how we treated them would determine how they would pay us back. My father instilled in me the passion for raising animals, and since then I have always had pigs, chickens and some ducks. I also remember that the best part of having pigs was when the piglets were born—I was just amazed by the gift of life. “Today, I am following in my father’s footsteps, but I am doing it a little bit differently. I no longer keep the pigs in a basic stall. Together with my son, we have built a pen with three stalls and a concrete floor. We currently have 3 pigs, all female. We plan to keep up to 8 adult-size pigs in the pen eventually; we can’t keep more because they would fight for space. “My plan is to sell the piglets to my neighbors or family members and keep the best females for reproducing. I would like to butcher 1 pig a year so that I can keep some of the meat and sell the rest. I have a small restaurant that I run on the weekends. I would use the meat to make 3 or 4 kinds of dishes. My son wants to keep only the male pigs and use them to inseminate other pigs. He says that he could get up to $60 USD for each insemination. “Belonging to this project has made me realize that my dad was ahead of his time by raising pigs in closed stalls and providing them with as much food and water as possible. I also realize that there were things that my dad could have done differently, but lacked the knowledge, such as building a concrete floor to prevent disease.”

2013 Final Report

Project: Agricultural Innovation through Heritage Seeds and Practices Partner: The Advice and Rural Services Center (ASER MAIZ) Program Area: Food Security

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ASER MAIZ - Agricultural Innovation through Heritage Seeds and Practice

Agricultural Innovation through Heritage Seeds and Practices in Veracruz, Mexico

Program Partner: The Advice and Rural Services Center (ASER MAIZ) Program Area: Food Security Project Participants: 148 women, 27 men and 35 children (210 direct participants) from 100 families in 10 communities; 1211 beneficiaries from 18 communities Project Duration: January 2013 – December 2013

The Project • Bolstered rural food security by recuperating and protecting native

seeds that have served as a food source for many generations

• Advanced organic techniques of production and ensured more

efficient use of land and water through educational and strategic activities • Promoted long-term sustainability by compiling and documenting traditional forms of milpa* production in order to create a collection of seeds better adapted to the region

The Agricultural Innovation through Heritage Seeds and Practices project continued the efforts of ASER MAIZ to establish food security in rural coffee-growing communities. It also joined Mexico’s Sin Maíz no Hay País—No Corn, No Country—campaign (www.sinmaiznohaypais.org) in promoting heirloom varietals as crucial to maintaining genetic diversity in the country’s corn production. Additionally, the 2013 project further carved out a space for women to express themselves and their concerns about water rights and food sovereignty in the region. Over the course of 2013, the number of female participants was double the original projections, with women playing a key role in driving the daily activities, workshops, exchanges, assessments and, ultimately, the sustainability of the project. *Milpa is the subsistence agricultural system upon which rural populations throughout Mesoamérica have subsisted for hundreds if not thousands of years. At the heart of the milpa triad is corn, which is intercropped with squash and beans.

The Partner Founded: 1996 Coffee Kids Partner since: 2010 About ASER MAIZ: ASER MAIZ promotes community development by improving the economic, social and political conditions within rural communities in Veracruz, Mexico. The organization seeks to build the capacities of rural families in the areas of sustainable agriculture, food security, development and organizational skills. It also works with rural families to improve their advocacy skills and effectively demand public services from the government.

ASER MAIZ - Agricultural Innovation through Heritage Seeds and Practice

Successes since working with Coffee Kids: • 2010: Coffee Kids and ASER MAIZ established the Participative Integrated Health project, which continues to improve access to local health care for 9 indigenous coffee-growing communities. The project takes advantage of local knowledge of medicinal plants to mitigate the impact of a lack of health services while at the same time addressing issues of food security through the cultivation of native species, which are better adapted and resistant to disease and blight. • 2011 – 12: The Comprehensive Health and Nutrition project, funded by Coffee Kids, helped nearly 100 participants diversify their production and consumption of food. The project also introduced beekeeping as a means of supplementary nutrition and income. • 2013: The Agricultural Innovation project built upon these previous projects, taking a multidimensional approach to health and nutrition as a response to current regional health and food security issues in 10 coffee-growing communities. • In 2014: ASER MAIZ and Coffee Kids will continue to collaborate on innovative food security projects with our Integrated Food Production project. The project tackles food insecurity in 4 coffee-growing communities in Veracruz, Mexico and will, over the course of 3 years, construct systems for water provisioning and provide training in vegetable and egg production. The project will establish an integrated and self-sustaining food production system that can be replicated throughout the region.

The Need Communities served by ASER MAIZ are facing loss of traditional agricultural practices, water scarcity and increasing pollution. These factors contribute to the loss of corn varieties resistant to disease and pose new risks, even for traditional varieties. • Mexico’s entry into NAFTA in 1994 successfully pushed rural regions toward intensive agricultural production for an export market rather than for local consumption. Mexico’s current food insecurity is due in part to these changes. More than 20 million Mexican citizens find themselves with inadequate access to food, a number that has increased since the early 2000s.1,2 The process has been particularly pronounced in Veracruz, where staple foods such as corn and beans have suffered low yields in recent years due to crop diseases brought about by climate change. • In the municipalities of Filomeno Mata and Mecatlán, where ASER MAIZ works, corn and coffee are the 2 main crops that sustain farmers’ livelihoods. However, these municipalities are some of the worst off in the state, with up to 75% of the population suffering some form of food insecurity and some of the lowest levels of social development and access to services in the state.3 Many people in the region have stopped using the agricultural practices their parents or grandparents once taught them, and in many cases have lost access to native seeds (corn, beans, squash and so on) that both grow well in their specific climate and are more disease resistant than commercial corn. They have lost the genetic diversity that would enhance the adaptability of existing heritage varietals. Furthermore, climate change poses additional challenges. •

Project Participants Communities 10

Participants Men

Women

Children

TOTAL

148

210

1 Source: 2010. Mileneo Online from FAO/SAGARPA figures http://puebla.milenio.com/cdb/doc/impreso/9044085 2 Source: 2010. National Council for the Evaluation of Social Development Policy (CONEVAL) 3 Source: 2011. Mapa Cartográfico del Observatorio en Seguridad Alimentaria del Estado de Veracruz, Universidad de Veracruz (most recent statistics from 2005)

ASER MAIZ - Agricultural Innovation through Heritage Seeds and Practice

The Results Schedule of activities: Objective (description)

Promote food sovereignty through a participatory community model of organic, sustainable agriculture

Activity

Scheduled

Current Status Ongoing/Rescheduled

4 workshops on the production of organic fertilizer

February â&#x20AC;&#x201C; April 2013

4 workshops on the integrated treatment of diseases

March and September 2013

2 workshops completed and 2 workshops rescheduled for March 2014* Completed Reduced

Establish 10 model gardens

February â&#x20AC;&#x201C; September 2013

7 gardens were established; the number of gardens was reduced so that more resources could go to workshops and backyard, rooftop and community vegetable gardens Ongoing/Rescheduled

Strengthen milpa agriculture as both an agriculturally integrated unit and a source of healthy food while promoting cultivation of native corn to promote food sovereignty

Promote environmental education and water conservation as core food sovereignty concepts

Document the existing practices and the products of the milpa system 1 nutrition and health workshop featuring milpa produce and amaranth

4 workshops and tours April and September completed; completion and 2013 distribution of educational materials rescheduled until March 2014 June 2013

Exceeded

2 environmental education and water conservation workshops for children

February and April 2013

Promote the planting of fruit and timber trees in 5 communities

March and June 2013

Celebration of World Water Day with a forum for children, adolescents and adults

Completed

3 workshops held (2 on environmental education and 1 about the water cycle) Completed 40 children and families planted 100 trees Completed

March 2013

221 participants from 18 communities attended the forum

ASER MAIZ - Agricultural Innovation through Heritage Seeds and Practice

Promote backyard and rooftop vegetable gardens

Exceeded

Host 3 training workshops to establish rooftop vegetable gardens

March – June 2013

Establish backyard vegetable gardens with 20 families

February – June 2013

4 workshops on rooftop gardening held, with an additional 4 workshops on backyard vegetable gardens Completed

*ASER MAIZ reports that cover crop seeds are very difficult to find, as very few organizations or individuals are promoting the growth of cover crops. Achievements: •

• •

•

• •

•

At the end of the year, 33 more participants and 3 more communities than originally proposed participated in the project. In particular, the number of women participants doubled from the original estimations. According to ASER MAIZ, this increase in the number of participants demonstrates a high level of engagement and greater community investment in the organization and its projects, which bodes well for long-term sustainability. 51 women and 4 men attended 2 organic fertilizer workshops in 2 communities and applied their learning in creating 200 liters of organic fertilizer for future application. 4 workshops on the integrated treatment of agricultural diseases took place. 30 women and 7 men attended the first workshop, identified 2 diseases and proceeded to monitor them under the guidance of the workshop specialist. Subsequently, 3 tours of 5 plots have taken place to detect, assess and manage disease. 3 more workshops took place in 3 additional communities. 4 workshops and tours to document the existing practices and the products of the milpa system took place. 7 women and 8 men attended a workshop about different corn varieties hosted in the Corn Center in Tlaxcala, Mexico. Participants visited plots with different varieties of corn and learned about the attributes of each variety. 46 children in 2 communities participated in 3 workshops: 2 about environmental education and 1 about the water cycle. As a practical application of learning from these workshops, 40 children and families planted 100 fruit and timber trees in 5 communities. 221 participants from 18 communities attended a water rights and food sovereignty forum, organized by ASER MAIZ, held on World Water Day 2013. 93 participants from 5 communities participated in 4 training workshops on establishing rooftop vegetable gardens. An additional 4 workshops on establishing backyard gardens were held. Participants then applied the new knowledge and skills gained from these workshops in the following ways: 76 participants are currently growing vegetables on rooftop and backyard vegetable gardens and 43 participants helped create and currently care for 5 collective gardens in 5 communities. 12 native seed varieties have been collected for a new seed bank. An organizing committee and regulations guiding the collection, preservation and sharing of seeds have been developed.

Key indicators of project objective: Increase food security • 2 surveys, Months of Adequate Household Food Provisioning (MAHFP)1 and Dietary Diversity,2 were conducted with participants in September 2012 and again in November 2013.

1 The Months of Adequate Household Food Provisioning (MAHFP) survey measures household food access over the course of a year. (Source: GMCR Monitoring and Evaluation Guide for Supply Chain Outreach Funded Projects, 2012) 2 The Dietary Diversity survey measures food access during a designated period of time and is based on the number of food groups that a household or individual consumes. (Source: ibid)

ASER MAIZ - Agricultural Innovation through Heritage Seeds and Practice

The following observations were made in comparing results from the 2 surveys: Months of Adequate Household Food Provisioning (MAHFP) Survey: September 2012 (30 participants) 30% of participants said they did not have enough food to meet their family’s needs 4 months out of the year: May, June, July, August

September 2013 (30 participants) 30% of participants said they did not have enough food to meet their family’s needs 4 months out of the year: May, June, July, August

Observation The number of months in which participants experienced food insecurity remained the same.

Dietary Diversity Survey: Type of food consumed at least once a week

Percentage of participants who have consumed the item at least once during the past 7 days Sept 2012

Sep 2013

% change

Any bread, rice, noodles, tortillas, or any other food made from corn, rice, wheat, sorghum, millet, quinoa 100% or any other local grain?

100%

No change

Any potatoes, yams, yucca, manioc, cassava or any other foods made from roots or tubers?

47%

46%

-1%

Any vegetables?

37%

70%

+33%

Any fruits?

62%

50%

-12%

Any chicken, beef, pork, lamb, goat, rabbit, wild game, duck or other birds, liver, kidney, heart or other organ meats?

50%

66%

+16%

Any eggs?

75%

100%

+25%

Any fresh or dried fish or shellfish?

12%

16%

+4%

Any foods made from beans, peas, lentils or nuts?

100%

No change

Any cheese, yogurt, milk or other milk products?

52%

40%

-12%

Any foods made with oil, fat or butter?

100%

No change

Any sugar, honey, or sweets (cookies and so on)?

100%

No change

Any other foods such as condiments, coffee or tea?

100%

No change

Additional observations/information: • According to the Dietary Diversity Survey, participants consumed more vegetables in September 2013 than they had one year earlier, before the implementation of this project. • According to a survey done by ASER MAIZ that measured families’ sources of food, home production accounted for 15% of all food consumed in September 2012. By September 2013, this figure had increased to 20%. The increase was attributed to the rooftop, backyard and community vegetable gardens established during the project.

ASER MAIZ - Agricultural Innovation through Heritage Seeds and Practice

Other outcomes: People in the communities where the food security project is taking place are gaining interest in recovering their traditional agricultural practices and have started exchanging seeds on their own. • Children of participants have become more deeply involved in the project, accelerating progress with their energy and enthusiasm for learning and knowledge sharing. They also assist with the daily operations of the seed bank, from selecting seeds to assisting with record keeping. This assistance is essential, considering that many of their parents struggle with reading and writing. • Previously unknown diseases appeared during the spring-summer harvest, decimating close to 30% of the corn in the region. A sample was sent to an agronomist at Veracruz University and together, ASER MAIZ and the university will approach government authorities at a scheduled working group discussion in February 2014 about these diseases and the ramifications for corn production. ASER MAIZ has indicated that this is only the beginning of a much larger conversation concerning the Mexican government’s acceptance and promotion of transgenic corn, and the subsequent impact on local varieties, production and food sovereignty. • Unseasonal warm and dry weather and the late arrival of the rains took a toll on many participants’ gardens, as many project participants do not have reservoirs with which to water their vegetables. Between May and October, however, there was too much rain. It is only at the end of the year that participants were harvesting their vegetables. •

Capacity Building Goals, Challenges & Lessons Learned Goal #1: Develop the capacities of ASER MAIZ staff to better monitor and control financial performance. ASER MAIZ attended Coffee Kids’ Construction of Administrative Capacities workshop in 2012 and learned about methodologies and practices for the monitoring and control of their accounting and tax administration. This learning was further strengthened at the Organizational Strengthening and Exchange Series workshop in Oaxaca in October 2013, with workshop sessions focused on writing proposals and clear budgets, project planning, and organizational and financial management. Applying the tools gained in these 2 workshops, ASER MAIZ has reported significant progress in tracking their financial performance. Goal #2: Enhance ASER MAIZ’s ability to address external challenges to organizational efficiency and project sustainability. In recent years, the Mexican government has constructed a number of dams to provide urban areas with water. This has put the livelihoods of people from the Totonacapan region of Veracruz in jeopardy, since they rely on rivers fed from mountain runoff as their primary water supply. In addition to facing this significant water challenge, ASER MAIZ and the communities with whom they work are also dealing with unseasonable temperatures and irregular rain patterns attributed to climate change. ASER MAIZ staff has a deep understanding of these external challenges and are utilizing Coffee Kids’ funds, in part, to implement educational and strategic activities with project participants in the short term (e.g., workshops on water conservation and drought management and the planting of fruit and timber trees to prevent runoff and encourage water retention). Furthermore, in 2014, Coffee Kids and ASER MAIZ will commence the first year of a 3-year integrated food security project designed to help combat these challenges. In year 1, the project will establish Adaptive Rainwater Harvesting Systems (SACALL) that will facilitate year-round access to water for 50 families. The organization will also produce educational materials and guides that will be made widely available within the region.

ASER MAIZ - Agricultural Innovation through Heritage Seeds and Practice

Goal #3: Improve ASER MAIZ’s ability to comply with Coffee Kids’ M&E standards and practices. Following the Organizational Strengthening and Exchange Series, ASER MAIZ has expressed a deeper understanding of the value of monitoring and evaluation in enabling the organization and participants to measure progress. Coffee Kids is working closely with ASER MAIZ and all partners in 2014 to further develop their capacities in creating and conducting food security surveys and sharing indicators that generate robust information according to the local context.

ASER MAIZ: Most Significant Change stories “Growing our own food organically and exchanging our seeds is a win-win situation for all of us involved in the project. It gives us control of what we are eating.” Name: Carmen Velázquez Galicia Age: 57 Location: Rancho Alegre “I am no stranger to providing healthy food for my family. My husband, nephews and I breed and care for sheep, chickens, turkeys and pigs. From a young age I started caring for animals, and it’s something I always grew up doing. I now see that a lot of people in my community have stopped producing their own food, and that makes me sad. I work very hard to provide food for my family, and I am very proud of that. When ASER MAIZ asked me to participate in the seed project, I immediately agreed because I wanted people to start growing their own food again. “My husband and I have a piece of land not very far from our home where we grow corn, beans, squash, and about an acre of coffee. We also keep 2 pigs in a corral that we feed kitchen scraps and corn from our plot. As far back as I can remember, my husband has been growing white and yellow corn that he got from his father. The yellow corn is good for making tortillas and the white corn is good for eating fresh. In the past, we have exchanged bean and squash seeds with other family members. “In the seed project, I started exchanging corn and bean seeds with other participants who didn’t have any. In exchange, I received cabbage, radish, cilantro and tomato seeds. I planted these in a small vegetable garden that my husband built for me next to our sheep stall. “Thanks to ASER MAIZ, I’m growing vegetables that I didn’t grow before, and other participants are eating beans and corn that they didn’t have before. Growing our own food organically and exchanging our seeds is a win-win situation for all of us involved in the project. It gives us control of what we are eating.”

ASER MAIZ - Agricultural Innovation through Heritage Seeds and Practice

“I can say that growing your own food is one of the best things a family can do. Not only does it provide you with fresh vegetables, but it also gives you a sense of freedom.” Name: Josefa María García Lorenzo Age: 33 Location: Filomeno Mata “In our community, men are typically in charge of growing corn, beans, chilies and greens. There is very little space in the community to grow food, so some men have to walk up to 4 hours to reach their corn plot. Women usually stay at home to attend to the housework and care for the children. So when the staff from ASER MAIZ came to the community 2 years ago and offered the women an opportunity to grow their own vegetables, I was a little bit skeptical. I did not know how to grow anything, and I did not have that much space to do it. My mother, on the other hand, was one of the first people to sign up for the project. “I started participating in this project unofficially about 2 years ago when my mother gave me some squash, bean, chili and tomato seeds. I just threw them into the ground, in a small space I had in front of my house. I had never grown anything from seeds, so I didn’t know what to expect. I was very surprised when about 6 days later, something green started coming up out of the soil. I paid close attention during the following weeks, and after just 6 weeks I was harvesting my first squash—I was very happy. “Once I decided to formally take part in the seed project, the main challenge was to find space where I could set up my vegetable garden. The only solution was to build a terrace in front of my house. It was a very hard job because we had to bring rocks and sand from the river, but we managed to do it somehow. Then I filled the terrace with compost that we received from my mother and my aunt. “Part of the training that ASER MAIZ gave us was in saving and storing seeds so that we have them every year. We have to let 1 or 2 plants go to seed and then dry them in a cool, dark place. During the first year, I was able to save squash, tomato and cilantro seeds, which I used to grow new plants. I also exchanged these seeds for other seeds that I didn’t have, like different varieties of beans, corn and cabbage. “I feel very proud about producing my own cilantro, squash, kale, lettuce, radishes and chilies. I hardly ever go to the market to buy any of these vegetables now. I can say that growing your own food is one of the best things a family can do. Not only does it provide you with fresh vegetables, but it also gives you a sense of freedom.”

ASER MAIZ - Agricultural Innovation through Heritage Seeds and Practice

“Along with 3 of my neighbors and my cousin, we made 9 raised beds in my cousin’s backyard. …We figured that we can take turns taking care of the vegetables, and when it’s time to harvest or weed, we do it together.” Name: Adela Hernández García Age: 43 Location: Ricardo Flores Magón “A long time ago, my mother and I used to grow medicinal herbs and some vegetables, like chilies and tomatoes, in clay pots. I remember picking ripe tomatoes, so juicy and sweet. But when my mother passed away, I stopped growing anything. One day, one of my daughters told me that the tomatoes we buy in the market are bland and too acidic. That got me thinking that I should start growing my own tomatoes again, so that my children could taste tomatoes as sweet and juicy as the ones my mother and I used to grow. “My first contact with ASER MAIZ was during a meeting they held in our community about 3 years ago. They wanted to organize a group of women who cared about the health of their families and who could commit their time and energy. In the beginning, I wasn’t sure what it was about, but I’m a very curious person so I signed up for it. “Ever since that first meeting, I have been involved 100% with the projects that ASER MAIZ has presented to us. I even became a community promoter. My job as a promoter is to coordinate the various project activities, as well as answer any questions my fellow partners have. I have 3 sons and 2 daughters, which makes being a promoter a bit much at times, but I love helping people out. “It has been 3 years since I started growing my own tomatoes and chilies again. Now, thanks to this project, I can grow other types of vegetables like radishes, kale, cabbage, squash and, most recently, amaranth [thanks to 3 women who went to Oaxaca to an amaranth workshop]. “I no longer grow in pots. Along with 3 of my neighbors and my cousin, we made 9 raised beds in my cousin’s backyard. We grow tomatoes, radishes, chilies, amaranth, cabbages, cilantro and some medicinal herbs. We figured that we can take turns taking care of the vegetables, and when it’s time to harvest or weed, we do it together. We also make our own compost from kitchen scraps and horse manure.”

2013 Final Report

Project: Community Participation in Food Security (Stage Two) Partner: San Juan Colorado Sustainable Development Council (CDS) Program Area: Food Security

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CDS - Community Participation in Food Security (Stage 2)

Community Participation in Food Security (Stage 2) in San Juan Colorado, Oaxaca, Mexico

Program Partner: San Juan Colorado Sustainable Development Council (CDS) Program Area: Food Security Project Participants: : 24 men and 5 women (29 direct participants) from 29 families from 1 community; 319

beneficiaries

Project Duration: January 2013 – December 2013

The Project • Fostered sustainable agriculture in the community of Nuevo Progreso (in the municipality of San Juan Colorado) and strengthened the existing subsistence farming system • Promoted the production of traditional foods with high nutritional value, such as maize, squash, beans, radishes, lettuce, onions, tomatoes and chilies • Provided training in agroecological practices (e.g., worm compost, water retaining trenches, erosion barriers, diversified vegetable production) that improved yields while maintaining soil fertility and preventing erosion • Spread new agricultural knowledge and practices through farmer-to-farmer training • Educated participants about the importance of midto long-term financial planning and strengthened the existing small-scale savings program (“rural savings group”) • Created a business plan for the development of local vanilla and palm oil micro-industries based on findings from the 2011 feasibility study This project represented stage 2 of CDS’s Community Participation in Food Security project (initiated in 2012), and continued the work with the project participants from stage 1 (21 direct participants, 100 beneficiary families).

The Partner Founded: 2013 Coffee Kids partner since: 2011(as TCPI) About CDS: In 2013, Coffee Kids’ partner Everything as Indigenous People (TCPI) reorganized under the name San Juan Colorado Sustainable Development Council (CDS). Although legally a new entity, CDS is a direct outgrowth of TCPI, works in the same coffee-growing community of Nuevo Progreso, and has adopted the same mission of promoting social, political, environmental and cultural transformation initiatives in the region. Along with the project coordinators,

CDS - Community Participation in Food Security (Stage 2)

the original TCPI members participating in Stage 1 and Stage 2 of this project have become part of the CDS project to strengthen subsistence farming. Successes since working with Coffee Kids: • 2011: Coffee Kids began working with the organization TCPI on the Community Participation in Food Security project. The project improved the food security of 100 families from Nuevo Progreso, teaching techniques in organic cultivation of vegetables and disease prevention and treatment and initiated a feasibility study for the development of local micro-industries. Although TCPI no longer exists, most of the participants have continued working with the new organization, CDS. • 2013: CDS successfully incorporated as an NGO under Mexican tax law, which creates pathways to better fiscal planning, opens new potential funding streams, and improves their position and credibility within their communities, both local and international.

The Need •

• • • •

•

The population of Mixteca-Sierra Sur, the region where the project is located, is 70% indigenous. 3 out of 10 residents are illiterate, and 400,000 individuals migrate to the north each year in search of economic opportunities.1 While the majority of Nuevo Progreso residents are coffee producers, their production only provides 30% of their income and they must seek other work to cover basic expenses.2 Current agricultural practices in the region have slowly eroded the land’s productivity and polluted the water. People are harvesting fewer vegetables than in the past due to a lack of awareness about practices that ensure proper land management and maintain or increase fertility. Industrialized products with poor nutritional value have slowly replaced traditional staple foods such as maize and vegetables (e.g., squash, beans, tomatoes and lettuce), aggravating undernutrition among the population.3 People in the region have little knowledge about strategies for saving money or financial planning.

Project Participants Communities 1

Participants Men

Women

TOTAL

294

1 AYU Foundation, 2003 2 CDS survey of Nuevo Progreso. 2010 3 Municipal Development Plan 2008 – 2010, San Juan Colorado, Oaxaca 4 The original proposal included 25 men and 5 women participants from 30 families. However, due to the death of 1 participant, the final number of participants is 24 men and 5 women from 29 families.

CDS - Community Participation in Food Security (Stage 2)

The Results Schedule of activities: Objective (description)

Improve technical capacities and strengthen farming methods to increase food yields

Activity

February – May 2013

Completed

1 workshop on organic vegetable gardening

February 2013

Completed

4 sustainable agriculture workshops

March – November 2013

Completed

February 2013 (Rescheduled for May/ early June 2013)

14 irrigation systems set up in 14 maize plots

10 participants attend 1 savings and microcredit workshop in collaboration with a CK partner organization (AUGE)

January 2013

February – March 2013 (Rescheduled for May/ early June 2013)

Only 7 gardens were set up in order to put more resources into irrigation systems 17 producers (3 more than planned) selected to receive irrigation equipment Exceeded 17 irrigation systems (3 more than planned) set up in 17 maize plots Exceeded

February – December 2013

22 vegetable producers (4 more than planned) trained new producers Rescheduled and completed

December 2013

Reduced

Exceeded 14 producers1 selected to receive irrigation equipment

18 established vegetable producers train 18 new vegetable producers Formalize the existing savings groups and investigate the possibility of developing microcredit opportunities

Current status

3 agroecological practices and landfertility workshops

13 new vegetable gardens set up

Promote the production of local staple foods such as maize and backyard vegetables (e.g., squash, radishes, beans, lettuce and tomatoes)

Scheduled

Participants were selected according to need via a democratically run assembly.

Delayed until January 2014 due to inclement weather

CDS - Community Participation in Food Security (Stage 2)

Achievements: • • • • • • • • • • •

8 workshops took place with a total of 24 producers attending. 9 participants received certificates1 upon completion of the sustainable agriculture course. 7 new vegetable gardens were set up, bringing the total to 25 vegetable gardens. 17 irrigation systems were set up in 17 plots (3 more than originally proposed), allowing producers to plant and produce corn during the dry season for the first time. 1,000 meters of water-retaining trenches were excavated, 77 meters of erosion barriers were created, and 5,125 square meters of compost were applied on 18 plots. 22 participants (4 more than originally proposed) shared their knowledge with new vegetable producers. 11 corn producers reported that they no longer use slash and burn techniques on their plots. 17 farmers planted cover crops. Participants invested $2,310 USD in the small-scale savings program. As a group, participants saved approximately $193 USD per week or $3,850 USD over the course of the year by producing their own vegetables. Participants have doubled their consumption of vegetables, consuming vegetables 4.7 times per week (or 526 meals total) on average during the vegetable harvest, as compared to 2 times per week (216 meals total) outside of the harvest.

Key indicator for project objective: Increase food security • 2 surveys, Months of Adequate Household Food Provisioning (MAHFP) 2 and Dietary Diversity3, were conducted with participants in September of 2012 and 2013.

The following are results of these surveys:

Months of Adequate Household Food Provisioning (MAHFP) Survey: September 2012 (20 participants) 80% of participants said they did not have enough food to meet their family’s needs 4 months out of the year: May, June, July and August

September 2013 (26 participants)

Observations

The number of months in which participants 65% of participants said they experienced food insecurity remain the same. did not have enough food to However, the percentage of families meet their family’s needs 4 experiencing insecurity during these months months out of the year: May, was reduced from 80% in 2012 to 65% in June, July and August 2013.

1 Validated by the Regional Center of Agriculture 2 The Months of Adequate Household Food Provisioning (MAHFP) survey measures household food access over the course of a year. (Source: GMCR Monitoring and Evaluation Guide for Supply Chain Outreach Funded Projects, 2012)

CDS - Community Participation in Food Security (Stage 2)

Dietary Diversity Survey: Type of food consumed at least once a week

Percentage of participants who have consumed the item at least once during the past 7 days Sept 2012

Sept 2013

% change

Any bread, rice, noodles, tortillas, or any other food made from corn, rice, wheat, sorghum, millet, quinoa or any other local grain?

100%

No change

Any potatoes, yams, yucca, manioc, cassava, or any other foods made from roots or tubers?

75%

65%

-10%

Any vegetables?

45%

100%

+55%

Any fruits?

80%

85%

+5%

Any chicken, beef, pork, lamb, goat, rabbit, wild game, duck or other birds, liver, kidney, heart or other organ meats? Any eggs?

60%

62%

+2%

80%

96%

+16%

Any fresh or dried fish or shellfish?

20%

No change

Any foods made from beans, peas, lentils or nuts?

100%

92%

-8%

Any cheese, yogurt, milk or other milk products?

75%

65%

-10%

Any foods made with oil, fat or butter?

90%

100%

+10%

Any sugar, honey, or sweets (cookies, etc.)?

100%

96%

-4%

Any other foods such as condiments, coffee or tea?

100%

No change

Additional observations: • According to the Dietary Diversity Survey, participants consumed 55% more vegetables in September 2013 than they had one year earlier, before the implementation of this project. • According to a survey done by CDS that measured families’ sources of food (including all types of food), home production accounted for 25% of all food consumed in September 2012. By September 2013, this figure had increased to 40%. The increase was attributed to the vegetable gardens established during the project. Other outcomes: • According to reports, participants are increasing their earnings and diversifying their incomes by selling surplus vegetables from their gardens. Data were not collected about how much they are earning, but economic indicators will be incorporated during stage 3 in 2014. • Producers have taken an active interest in diversifying their diets: some are growing corn for the first time and are experimenting with new crops such as bananas, jicama and beets. • Participants have strengthened their gardening skills and commitment to soil conservation by replacing chemical use and slash-and-burn practices with sustainable agriculture techniques, including using compost, bio-fertilizers, cover crops and rainwater-catchment techniques. • 14 people who were not officially project participants attended the workshop on organic vegetable gardening and agreed to set up their own vegetable garden at the end of the workshop. • More women were involved in the project this year, and all of the female participants attended the sustainable agriculture course. • 4 participants continue to attend training in sustainable agriculture techniques and are strengthening their skills in order to serve as promoters who will carry out assessments with other participants and provide

CDS - Community Participation in Food Security (Stage 2)

hands-on guidance on demonstrative plots. • January 23 – 26, 2014, 10 participants attended, with great success, a savings and microcredit workshop in the Education Center of AUGE, a Coffee Kids’ partner organization, in Veracruz Mexico. During the workshop they learned how to manage a savings group that looks at the amount of savings as the main economic indicator of success. • Local vanilla and palm oil micro-industries have been further developed, with steps being taken to formalize a vanilla producers’ cooperative. Already, 3 contracts for the sale of vanilla pods have been arranged for 2014. The group has potential buyers in Canada and Oaxaca city. The group estimates that with good management, the vanilla market can provide them up to $27,000 USD annually.

Capacity Building Goals, Challenges & Lessons Learned Goal #1: Formalize NGO status according to Mexican tax law Mexican tax law can be very confusing, and CDS encountered difficulties in formalizing their status as an NGO in Mexico. Coffee Kids provided CDS with resources and advice to assist them in this endeavor, connecting them with reputable tax lawyers in Mexico who were able to guide them through the process of becoming a recognized NGO. Furthermore, 3 representatives from CDS participated in Coffee Kids’ Building Administrative Capacities workshop in July 2012. The training and knowledge exchange with other Mexican organizations contributed greatly to their eventual success. Goal #2: Diversify funding streams CDS seeks to diversify their funding stream so as to eliminate over-reliance on Coffee Kids and to further expand their project catalog. Coffee Kids has assisted in this endeavor by facilitating connections between CDS and other local and international NGOs.

Goal #3: Improve capacities in microcredit and savings management TCPI/CDS intended to initiate a microcredit project from the moment they began working with Coffee Kids. Although a basic rural savings fund has been established, the group lacks the experience and knowledge of appropriate structures needed to develop the nascent project into a well-functioning microcredit and savings group. This year, Coffee Kids connected CDS with our partner AUGE, whose successful Women Saving in Solidarity Groups (GMAS) and Kids Saving in Solidarity Groups (GNAS) groups have, over the past 15 years, grown to reach 2,500 women and 733 young people within Veracruz, Mexico. CDS planned a workshop with AUGE in order to create a formal savings and microcredit group in Nuevo Progreso, with rules, standards and purpose that will work best in the community. The workshop with AUGE in Veracruz, Mexico, was completed in January 2014.

Goal #4: Develop CDS staff leadership and project planning and management skills CDS relies primarily on a single person to guide and administer the projects. Coffee Kids has been active in working to further develop key skills and knowledge among potential leaders within the organization. In order to further this work, 3 CDS representatives were invited to take part in the Organizational Strengthening and Exchange Series workshop in Oaxaca in October 2013. This workshop helped address CDS’ primary capacity building challenges: understanding and meeting Coffee Kids’ proposal requirements and creating clear budgets. After attending workshop sessions on proposal writing, project planning and organizational and financial management, one representative from CDS appeared significantly more confident: “The presentation [on proposal writing and project planning]

CDS - Community Participation in Food Security (Stage 2)

improved my understanding of objectives, tasks, indicators and goals. I plan to use the project profitability and cost-benefit analysis form to analyze some of CDS’ projects.” After the workshop, the single person guiding and administering the project commented on how the workshop helped to create more ownership among other CDS leaders and participants: “Thanks to Coffee Kids, my co-workers are here [at this workshop]. It is really good that they are learning about all these aspects of a project.” Finally, the workshop helped CDS get a better grasp on the importance of monitoring and evaluation, as well as provided specific tools to accomplish this. According to one representative at the workshop: “I feel like my outlook on this project has grown. I plan to share what I have learned with the project coordinator, so that they also bring this larger vision of the importance of monitoring and evaluation, etc. to the project. I plan to share my learning with everyone in the organization so that we are on the same page.”

CDS: Most Significant Change stories Name: Robert Hernández Heras Age: 23 Community: Nuevo Progreso, Oaxaca Robert is one of the founders of the Community Participation in Food Security project. He grows corn, beans and squash using the intercropping system of milpa on 2 hectares of land that he shares with his father. Due to the heavy rains during the growing season, Robert had a poor harvest. Since then, he has doubled the amount of land for his milpa, in hopes of harvesting in April. He also installed a gravitational drip irrigation system on his plot as part of the project. “I realize that to improve a plot of land, you have to invest a lot of hard work. I now understand why the older generation always told us that there was no point in trying to improve parcelas [plots of land]—it’s a lot of work. I know that it’s tough working as a farmer, but the land gives us what we need if we take care of it and work with it. “Before this project, I didn’t understand how important it was to provide the soil with nutrients and compost. But I understand now. Since I joined this project 3 years ago, I haven’t burned my fields and I haven’t used herbicides. I’ve been growing green cover crops—legumes—that provide nitrogen to the soil. But I have had problems with ants eating my cover crops, so the soil on my plot is still poor. So now I’m going to try growing canavalia [a legume], because the ants will leave it alone. This year, I put 7 truckloads of organic fertilizer on a portion of my plot. I am also planning to make compost from what is on my land. Bit by bit, I’m working toward my goal of putting organic compost and fertilizer on all of my parcela. I’m positive that in the coming years, the soil on my plot will get better, because I am going to continue improving and caring for it.”

CDS - Community Participation in Food Security (Stage 2)

Name: Jonás Heras Age: 63 Community: Nuevo Progreso, Oaxaca Jonás and his wife, Amalia, are from Nuevo Progreso and have been participants in the Community Participation in Food Security project since the very beginning. Despite struggling with Parkinson’s disease, Jonás loves to work the land with his wife. They’ve put a lot of time and effort into their plot, planting and harvesting jicama along the water-retaining trenches. They’re also growing radishes and corn. “The trainings and assessments have been a big help. Look at these jicama! Last week I harvested almost 2 kilos. My wife is very pleased with what we’re growing and producing, because it means we have more food to eat. “I planted radishes in late November, and I hope they don’t rot. I tried planting them 3 times before, but they rotted. The project assistants tell me it’s because of all the rain we’ve been having. But it should be the end of the rainy season, so hopefully we will harvest this time. From January to May there should be good weather and we will hopefully produce radishes every month. I planted corn in early December, so we should harvest that in February or March. “We’re really happy with the work we’re doing and the garden helps provide food for my family.”

Name: Yuridia Heras Hernández Age: 20 Community: Nuevo Progreso, Oaxaca Yuridia was born in Nuevo Progreso and joined the Community Participation in Food Security project this year. She has set up 3 garden beds using organic compost and earth. In late December, she planted radishes, cilantro, chard, lettuce and cabbage. “I’m in the process of setting up my vegetable garden and my father is helping me. I’m really motivated to have my own productive garden. I’ve seen how well the participants from last year’s project have done and how they’ve been able to feed their families with the food they grow. They’re eating better and saving money. So I’m excited to grow my own vegetables, instead of having to buy them. “In this project, I’m learning a lot of interesting and useful techniques, and how to become a good farmer. I also talked my father into growing a little bit of corn on part of his parcela for the first time, and he did it. We also have some land where we weren’t growing anything. Thanks to this project, we are now able to install an irrigation system on this plot and will grow using milpa. Eventually, I would really like to make this plot organic, like other members of the project are doing.”

2013 Final Report

Project: Productive Investment in Food Security (Stage One: Rainwater Harvesting) Partner: The Association of Rural Development and the Environment (DERMAC) Program Area: Food Security

Please do not hesitate to contact us for further information pertaining to this Coffee Kids project

DERMAC - Productive Investment in Food Security (Stage One: Rainwater Harvesting)

Productive Investment in Food Security (Stage One: Rainwater Harvesting) in Chiapas, Mexico

Program Partner: The Association of Rural Development and the Environment (DERMAC) Program Area: Food Security Project Participants: 24 women, 21 men and 47 children (92 individuals) from 33 families from 1 community;

304 beneficiaries

Project Duration: January 2013 – December 2013

The Project • Improved nutrition and well-being and reduced spending by helping participants produce fresh, healthy produce year-round

Advanced environmental protection through the implementation of agroecological and organic agricultural practices for the management of vegetable gardens, treatment of diseases and organic fertilizer production •

• Ensured project sustainability through the construction of a water reservoir system with a capacity of 50,000 liters, allowing participants to harvest rain during the rainy season and store it for use during the dry months • Strengthened a spirit of cooperation, mutual assistance and knowledge-sharing in the community, as participants first worked as a team to create a model garden and then helped each other in creating individual backyard gardens

This first stage of a 3-stage food security project focused on implementing a rainwater collection system to increase access to water for consumption and fresh vegetable production during the dry season. In this first stage, the project provided 4 months’ water supply to 33 families. The water was used for domestic purposes and for watering 24 vegetable gardens that produced 7 different types of vegetables. Funding for stages 2 – 3 of the project will be provided by other sources.

The Partner Founded: 2007 Coffee Kids partner since: 2011 About DERMAC: DERMAC is a relatively new organization founded with the intention of tapping into and utilizing newly graduated university students’ knowledge, skills and energy. DERMAC is committed to social, economic and environmental development and improved living conditions in the indigenous and rural regions in which they work. The organization focuses on making current methods of agriculture and forestry compatible with natural resource conservation while simultaneously improving rural economies and the social environment.

DERMAC - Productive Investment in Food Security (Stage One: Rainwater Harvesting)

Successes since working with Coffee Kids: •

2011 – 2012: DERMAC collaborated with Coffee Kids on a dry latrine project in the community of Emilio Rabasa. Soon after the project started, DERMAC staff realized that the community could not offer guarantees to make this project sustainable. DERMAC thus decided to transfer the project to the community of Lázaro Cárdenas, where it successfully installed 12 dry ecological latrines.

•

2012 – 2013: This first stage of DERMAC’s 3-stage project increased food security in Lázaro Cárdenas and in neighboring communities.

The Need •

18% of households in Lázaro Cárdenas have no access to clean water in or near their homes.1

•

Residents struggle to maintain vegetable gardens, especially during the dry season (April through June), resulting in an inability to meet their needs for fresh vegetables throughout the year.

•

Local families spend 30% more than the average Mexican family on food annually due to the distance the food must travel to reach the community.2 Despite paying higher prices, this food is often of low quality.

Project Participants

Participants

1 2

Communities

Boys

Girls

Men

Women

TOTAL

Source: DERMAC baseline survey 2011 Source: ibid.

DERMAC - Productive Investment in Food Security (Stage One: Rainwater Harvesting)

Schedule of activities: Objective (description)

Activity

Increase availability of water in the community

Build rain harvest system that will store at least 40,000 liters of water

April – May 2013

Rain harvest system that stores 50,000 liters of water built

A 140-square-meter model vegetable garden established through teamwork

May 2013

Completed

24 backyard vegetable gardens established

May 2013

Completed

Participants produce fresh and nutritious produce year-round

Promote agroecological and organic techniques among project participants

Scheduled

Current Status Completed

Completed 6 to 8 different kinds of vegetables harvested for home consumption

August 2013

Two workshops on treatment of diseases using organic methods with 40 participants

April, August 2013

203 kilograms of 7 different vegetables harvested in 3 harvest cycles

Completed

Achievements: •

Due to increased interest generated in the community, 5 more families than originally proposed participated.

•

In order to ensure project sustainability, DERMAC produced a legal document outlining project rules, responsibilities and repercussions for noncompliance, which each participant signed.

•

A rain harvest system with 50,000-liter capacity was built, thus increasing the availability of water in the community.

•

Working as a team, participants established 1 model vegetable garden measuring 140-square meters and sowed a variety of plants, including onions, cilantro, tomatoes, beans, squash and herbs.

•

24 backyard vegetable gardens were established, enabling production of fresh and nutritious produce yearround.

•

203 kilograms of 7 different vegetables (cilantro, radishes, carrots, cucumbers, hound’s berry, squash and chayote) were harvested in 3 cycles in these individual gardens.

•

More than 40 people attended 2 workshops on the treatment of diseases that commonly affect backyard vegetable gardens.

•

A manual was created to complement project workshops, documenting how to establish and manage the vegetable gardens.

DERMAC - Productive Investment in Food Security (Stage One: Rainwater Harvesting)

Key indicators for project objective: Increase food security

• 2 surveys, Months of Adequate Household Food Provisioning (MAHFP) 1 and Dietary Diversity2, were conducted with participants in December 2012 and again in December 2013.

The following are results of these surveys:

Months of Adequate Household Food Provisioning (MAHFP) Survey: December 2012 (25 participants)

90% of participants said they did not have enough food to meet their family’s needs 3 months out of the year: June, July, August.

December 2013 (25 participants)

Observations

While the number of months in which participants experienced food insecurity remained the same, there was a reduction 85% of participants said they in the number of participants indicating did not have enough food to they experienced food insecurity (90% in meet their family’s needs 3 December 2012 and 85% in December months out of the year: June, 2013). As a result of this project, the July, August. percentage of participants indicating they had enough food to meet their family’s needs increased (from 10% in December 2012 to 15% in December 2013).

Dietary Diversity Survey: Type of food consumed at least once a week

Percentage of participants who have consumed the item at least once during the past 7 days Dec 2012

Dec 2013

% change

Any bread, rice, noodles, tortillas, or any other food made from corn, rice, wheat, sorghum, millet, quinoa or any other local grain?

100%

No change

Any potatoes, yams, yucca, manioc, cassava, or any other foods made from roots or tubers?

47%

66%

+19%

Any vegetables?

37%

50%

+13%

Any fruits?

80%

100%

+20%

Any chicken, beef, pork, lamb, goat, rabbit, wild game, duck or other birds, liver, kidney, heart, or other organ meats? Any eggs?

50%

51%

+1%

75%

80%

+5%

Any fresh or dried fish or shellfish?

12%

10%

-2%

Any foods made from beans, peas, lentils or nuts?

62%

65%

+3%

DERMAC - Productive Investment in Food Security (Stage One: Rainwater Harvesting)

Any cheese, yogurt, milk or other milk products?

52%

55%

+3%

Any foods made with oil, fat or butter?

80%

No change

Any sugar, honey, or sweets (cookies, etc.)?

100%

No change

Any other foods such as condiments, coffee or tea?

100%

No change

Additional observations: • According to the Dietary Diversity Survey, participants consumed more vegetables and tubers in December 2013 than they had one year earlier, before the implementation of this project. • According to a survey done by DERMAC that measured families’ sources of food, home production accounted for 50% of all food consumed in December 2012. By December 2013, this figure had increased to 60%. The increase was attributed to the vegetable gardens established during the project. Additional outcomes: •

Women became increasingly more involved in the project over the course of the year. At the beginning of the project, women were in a more passive role, usually relegated to attending meetings with their husbands. By the end of the project, however, significant advances were seen as women began to organize themselves and participated more in trainings.

•

Thanks to the current project, DERMAC was connected with other organizations and potential funding sources that focus on environmental conservation and will be able to expand the successful dry latrine project in the community.

Capacity Building Goals, Challenges & Lessons Learned Goal #1: Improve capacity in monitoring, evaluation and communication of impact Coffee Kids has supported DERMAC over the past few years to improve project monitoring and evaluation and storytelling. During the annual visit to the project, Coffee Kids demonstrated how to interview participants, provided instruction on how to take meaningful photographs, and then advised DERMAC on how to put these components together to demonstrate project impact. This training was of value to DERMAC, as they are now better able to communicate positive impact to potential donors and to community members. In 2013, DERMAC also created a Facebook page, which they continue to update regularly. They have also shared regular project updates and photographs with Coffee Kids. Goal #2: Improve relationship building and project methodology As part of our capacity building methodology, Coffee Kids commits to an initial 3-year relationshipbuilding stage in order to plan and implement well-planned projects based on community input and goals and to establish trust and open communication. Despite DERMAC’s successful project implementation, over the past 3 years Coffee Kids has experienced challenges in maintaining open communication with the organization. Furthermore, at this time DERMAC’s methodology and philosophy deviate from Coffee Kids’ in that they do not put the same emphasis on community input and shared decision-making. Coffee Kids has, thus, decided to postpone partnership. We have confirmed that, due to their location within a protected natural area, communities participating in the current project have the option of requesting funding from a variety of sources, including government institutions, to continue with project stages 2 and 3. Despite the postponement of our partnership for 2014, Coffee Kids invited DERMAC to attend the first

DERMAC - Productive Investment in Food Security (Stage One: Rainwater Harvesting)

Organizational Strengthening and Exchange Series workshop in Oaxaca in October 2013. Immediately following the workshop, DERMAC reported that they had applied new proposal-writing skills in submitting a proposal to another donor in Mexico. DERMAC also began their new work cycle by utilizing tools and knowledge gained during the workshop. They conducted an internal assessment with their technical and administrative teams, compiled their ideas and concerns, and conducted sessions on project design and management. These initial sessions form part of a new 3-month training series aimed at strengthening the capacity of the DERMAC team and placing idea analysis and discussion at the center of project design and management. Thus, following the workshop, DERMAC has demonstrated enthusiasm in applying methodological tools from the workshop, with an eye to reapplying for Coffee Kids’ funding in 2015.

DERMAC: Most Significant Change stories Name: Bella Luz Clemente Camacho Age: 48 Community: Lázaro Cárdenas “Growing your own food is something that I think everyone in the family should do. Traditionally, however, it has been the men’s responsibility to grow corn, beans and coffee. Women would stay home to take care of the children and to make food. The only time we women would go to our plot was during the coffee harvest and to collect wood for the stove. “Now things have changed for the families that are participating in this project. In my case, being able to contribute to my family’s well-being by growing food has given me a feeling of empowerment. My husband and I now share equal responsibility for our family’s well-being. I also get to decide what kind of vegetables we should plant. It’s very important to learn how to plant and care for vegetables, as well as to prevent and manage diseases. What would I do if my husband left to work in the capital, Tuxtla Gutiérrez? I need to know how to care for the plants and grow our own food in case of an emergency, or if my husband is gone. “However, I don’t feel that this should be a job only for the adults. I think that children should be involved, too. That is why I let my daughters and grandchildren help us grow vegetables in the garden. I want them to follow my example and start growing their own food at home. “If we all work to grow our own food, I believe that we can provide more quality food for our families. Men would have more time to work on the coffee plots and we would depend less on food coming from outside the community.”

DERMAC - Productive Investment in Food Security (Stage One: Rainwater Harvesting)

Name: Gloria Vera Ruiz Age: 23 Community: Lázaro Cárdenas “I have childhood memories of my mother growing garlic, basil, tomato plants, and 3 or 4 types of chilies. She always liked to have these things available because she used them a lot to cook. She also grew other vegetables like lettuce, kale and cabbage, but somehow she didn’t manage to harvest much, or they didn’t grow so well. “With this project that DERMAC initiated, I’ve started to see a big difference in the community. I’ve attended all the workshops and I’ve put into practice all the techniques and tips we’ve been offered. For example, I’ve learned that by applying worm compost to my vegetables at certain periods while the plant is growing, the plants will grow bigger and stronger than without any compost. My mother used to do it like this when I was child. If my mother knew what I’m doing now, she would be extremely happy. “What has really changed for me after participating in this project is the way that I see growing food—I now see it as an experiment. Before, we would plant everything that our parents or grandparents used to plant, because that was the way it had always been done. But now, the agronomists from DERMAC have given us seeds of new types of vegetables and different kinds of corn, beans and herbs that can be planted and adapt well. It isn’t easy to accept that what we have grown in the past was perhaps not the best thing to grow, but that may explain why my mother’s vegetables didn’t always grow very well. Now we’re experimenting with seeds that DERMAC has given us and we’re seeing good results. We’re growing radishes, cilantro, lettuce, tomatoes and chilies. They seem to have adapted very well to the climate. “It’s up to us to continue experimenting with other types of vegetables and growing techniques. We can’t always depend on DERMAC to tell us what to plant and how to grow our food. We need to have confidence in experimenting, even if we fail, because we are the ones living on this land and we need to learn what works best for the land.”

Name: José Galvez Cruz Age: 51 Location: Lázaro Cárdenas “One of the biggest differences I’ve seen since this project started is in my family’s income. Before we used to have to go to the community of Cintalapa (about an hour away) to buy vegetables and fruit for my family. Since we don’t have a car, we used to pay $7 USD per trip to take us there and back. We used to go there once a month to buy our necessities, but it was taking too much time and money away from my family. It would take us the whole day to go there and back, and we were losing a day of weeding and harvesting on our farm. “Now, we grow close to half of our vegetables and we make our own compost that we use for the vegetables. We’re still going to Cintalapa to buy some vegetables, but in the past 6 months we only went twice. “We have also started to harvest the fertilizer from our dry latrines and applied it to our sugar cane plants and lemon trees.”