NICARAGUA – Nicaragua is a country where half of the population make their living as farmers. Since only 4% of farmland is irrigated, these farming families are very dependent on rains. The timing of farming activities such as ploughing, planting and harvesting are closely tied to rain cycles. Traditionally, farmers could count on two rainy seasons each year – one in May and another in September. In recent years, however, these rains have become far less predictable.

Nicaragua is a country where half of the population make their living as farmers. Since only 4% of farmland is irrigated, these farming families are very dependent on rains. The timing of farming activities such as ploughing, planting and harvesting are closely tied to rain cycles. Traditionally, farmers could count on two rainy seasons each year – one in May and another in September. In recent years, however, these rains have become far less predictable.

“Over the past 50 years, the average temperature in Nicaragua has increased by 2 degrees Celsius and precipitation has been reduced by about 15%…The results have been really hard on poor farmers.”

“Over the past 50 years, the average temperature in Nicaragua has increased by 2 degrees Celsius and precipitation has been reduced by about 15%,” said World Renew Nicaragua staff member, Mark VanderWees. “This has made it hard for farmers to plant and harvest their crops. When crops fail there is no crop insurance or other safety net to fall back on. The results have been really hard on poor farmers.”

That is just what happened this past year. The spring rains that traditionally begin in May didn’t come, and most farmers didn’t plant at all. The few that did plant found that the rain they received wasn’t nearly sufficient to support a crop using traditional practices. Their seed either didn’t germinate or their plants simple withered up. About 100,000 families were affected.

In the midst of this hardship and disaster, one farmer saw success. Through funding from the Foods Resource Bank, World Renew and its local partner, Foundation San Lucas, have been looking for options to help farmers adapt to the changing weather patterns they are experiencing. One technique that they have encouraged is conservation farming – a farming practice that combines minimal tillage, spaced planting, organic fertilizer and thick groundcover. Through this approach, farmers use ground cover and mulch to help retain moisture in the soil.

It’s a lot of work in the first year – which makes some people unwilling to invest the time and effort. One farmer, however, was willing to give it a try and saw success as a result.

She was able plant a plot of corn this year using conservation farming. Despite the lack of rains her ground cover retained enough moisture that she was able to harvest a respectable yield of corn. Compared to every field around it, the differences are dramatic. Now others in the community are talking about her plot and interested in trying out the conservation farming techniques themselves.

“It’s exciting to see the success that this farmer has had as a result of her hard work,” said VanderWees. “At the same time, we also know that most of her neighbors are struggling. Rains have come to break the drought and farmers can begin to plant their next crop, but food reserves in most homes are extremely low. Many don’t even have seed.  Please join us in praying that this next cropping season will be successful for all Nicaraguan farmers.”

World Renew is distributing seed to 150 farmers, 25 of which will be applying conservation agriculture practices for the September growing season.  

Please keep this program in your prayers.