Honduras

Background

With a tropical climate suited to growing a variety of different crops, many Hondurans depend on agriculture as their main source of income.

Heifer International began working in Honduras in 1978, supporting rural families with dairy goats, poultry and sheep, along with animal wellbeing training and construction materials to build livestock shelters. Since then, we have partnered with international, national, and local organizations to support communities across the country to improve their livelihoods.

By strengthening social capital in rural communities, we are helping local farming families become competitive in agricultural value chains and adapt to changes in the climate.

 We work with farmers and rural entrepreneurs focused on beekeeping, basic grains, coffee, dairy and livestock production, and rural tourism. With our support, farmers are diversifying their businesses and incomes through agroecology, promoting self-sufficiency and better nutrition through education and training.

We provide training to farmers through a network of 87 farmer field schools, working with them to improve production and make their families food secure. Farmers learn leadership and management skills, and develop business plans. Our teams also help farmers access financing from local banks, which is vital for growing their businesses. This has enabled grain and dairy farmers - a third of whom are women - to more than double their yields.

The Lenca II project in the Lempira d​epartment, where poverty levels are highest, is supporting the development of micro-businesses to meet local demand for dairy and basic grains.

Through increases in productivity, developing new dairy products and raising hygiene standards, producers are building sustainable businesses and making significant progress towards closing the living income gap.

Living Income

Heifer works with farmers to secure a living income so they can lead dignified and prosperous lives. Learn more about what achieving a living income entails.

Partners

• AGROBOLSA Bolsa de Productos y Servicios, S.A.

• APROCAFE Asociación de Productores de Café

• Asociación de Ganaderos de Intibucá (AGADI)

• Asociacion de Ganaderos de Olancho

• Asociación Regional de Servicios Agropecuarios de Occidente (ARSAGRO)

• BANRURAL Banco de Desarrollo Rural

• CDE-MIPYME, Centros de Desarrollo Empresarial de la Micro, Pequeña y Mediana Empresa

• ComRural Proyecto Competitividad Rural

• Cooperativa Apicola Pionera de Honduras Limitada (COAPIHL)

• Cooperativa de Apicultores de Choluteca(COAPICH)

• Coopertativas de Apicultores COMIXAMIEL

• Cooperativa Cafetalera CAPUCAS

• Cooperativa CREPAIMASUR

• Cooperativa Fronteras de Oriente

• Cooperativa Lauca

• CONSUCOOP Consejo Nacional Supervisor de Cooperativas

• COPECO Comisión Permanente de Convergencia

• DICTA Dirección de Ciencia y Tecnologia Agropecuaria

• Proyecto EmprendeSur

• ESMUSIALL Empresa de Servicios Múltiples de CIALES Lenca Limitada

• Fundación Para El Desarrollo Empresarial Rural (FUNDER)

• IHCAFE Instituto Hondureño del Café

• IHMA Instituo Hondureño de Mercadeo Agrícola

• IICA Instittuo Interamericano de Cooperación para la Agricultura

• INFOP Instituto Nacional de Frmación Profesional

• Interamerican Development Bank

• International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT)

• International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

• Secretaria Mi Ambiente

• PRO-LENCA Proyecto de Competitividad y Desarrollo Sostenible del Corredor Fronterizo Sur

• SAG, Secretaria de Agricultura y Ganadería

• Secretaria de Desarrollo Económico

• SENASA Servicio Nacional de Sanidad e Inocuidad Agroalimentaria

• SEDUCA Servicio de Educación Agrícola, Capacitación y Desarrollo Agroempresarial

• Sirolli Institute

• Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE)

• Universidad Nacional de Agricultura (UNAG)

• UNDP United National Development Programme

• Walmart Foundation

• World Food Programme

• USDA U.S. Department of Agriculture

More about our work in Honduras

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