On the banks of the Jicatuyo River in San Luis, Santa Bárbara, 40 families made a bold decision: to change their lives through better farming. For years, their plantain production depended almost entirely on rainfall and limited irrigation systems. Each harvest came with uncertainty, and every season brought the same struggle to keep the soil fertile and produce enough to sustain their households. Cultivation was limited by extreme physical effort and a lack of proper tools. Preparing the land meant long workdays, high costs of hiring outside laborers, and slower production.
That changed when the Integrated Rural Development and Productivity Project (SAG-ProOccidente), arrived with a clear proposal: to transform the way they farm, open doors to formal markets, and ensure the work of rural families translated to stability and wellbeing. With the support of the project, the Nueva Yamalá producer group implemented a suite of climate‑smart technologies, including drip irrigation, hybrid crop varieties, power tillers, motor cultivators, and electric fencing. These tools not only modernized production, but also promoted environmentally responsible practices while reducing operating costs.
Today, these 40 families (18 percent women and 20 percent youth) are cultivating more than plantains; they are cultivating opportunities and a more secure future. Each producer manages an average of 0.35 hectares, and together they farm 14 hectares of land.
During the first year, their projected net income was L. 4,480,000 (USD 181,203). An investment of L. 5,962,515.34 has strengthened their local economy and renewed hope across the community.
The results are clear: 14 hectares with climate‑smart technologies, 40 trained producers, and projected incomes of L. 4,480,000 for the first year. In addition, the group is preparing to commercialize in formal family markets as part of its business and sustainability plan. Beyond the numbers, farmers highlight personal growth and collective transformation.
“I feel very happy because we have improved our yields, and I have learned a lot. As a woman producer, I am grateful for everything the project has given us.” — Xiomara Díaz, a producer and Nueva Yamalá member
“If it weren’t for [SAG-ProOccidente], we could never have improved our fields this way. Now we can prepare the land quickly and efficiently. When I look at the field ready for planting, I feel happy. We have learned a lot, and we feel very grateful.”— Ramón Hildebrando Mejía, a producer and Nueva Yamalá member
This change was made possible through the commitment of producers and the technical and financial support of SAG‑ProOccidente. For the first time, families have access to hybrid crop varieties, irrigation systems, and modern tools that increase productivity and reduce costs.
Nueva Yamalá is one of 42 producer groups strengthened by SAG-ProOccidente, and today it stands as a tangible example of what collaborative investment and innovation can achieve: farms with sufficient water, more resilient crops, and better income opportunities. The progress of these families reflects not only their hard work but also the power of innovation and community solidarity — the perfect combination for every harvest.
ABOUT SAG-PROOCCIDENTE
SAG-ProOccidente is a five-year project implemented by ACDI/VOCA and led by Honduras’s Secretariat of Agriculture and Livestock (SAG). SAG-ProOccidente works with multiple partners, including local producers, the private sector, indigenous organizations, and small and medium enterprises, to build sustainable economic and climate resilience and reduce migration out of the country, promoting self-reliance through local ownership.
SAG-ProOccidente is providing technical assistance and training to more than 10,000 agriculture and livestock producers across six departments and 88 municipalities by helping them adopt new climate-smart technologies and practices and improving their access to finance.
Activities take place in the western departments of Santa Bárbara, Copán, Ocotepeque, Intibucá, Lempira, and La Paz, focusing on horticulture, fruit, coffee, cacao, dairy cattle, and those related to cultural products of ethnic origin.
The project is funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) through the Fund for the Promotion of Development (FONPRODE).
Learn more about SAG-ProOccidente.
Learn more about our work in Honduras.
