Projects in Agriculture and Productivity
Agriculture is the basis of community livelihood, and therefore deserved primary attention. The envisioned agriculture projects required trained agronomists, and this we found in FUNDAP, a local NGO dedicated to business formation and rural development. With FUNDAP, BUILD and Santa Anita organized a one-year agriculture and organizational training program. In conjunction with Catholic Relief Services (CRS), BUILD and Santa Anita participated in the planning and construction of a 30,000-plant seed nursery which will allow for internal seedling production. Additionally, BUILD purchased 20,000 new plants that were planted over the summer of 2009 as well as 30,000lbs. of organic fertilizer and 15,000lbs. of lime for soil alkalization. All of the estimates were complied by BUILD, FUNDAP, CRS, and Santa Anita based on the goal of doubling production in 3-5 years.