Project Name：Corn Production Resilience Strengthening Project

Project status：Projects in Operation

Cooperating Country：Guatemala, Central America

Project Description：

Guatemala has suffered from severe drought, hurricanes and locust disasters in the past three years, affecting the stability of domestic food production. According to World Bank forecasts, climate change will lead to a 27% reduction in domestic food production by 2030. In 2020, the COVID-19 epidemic has affected the global food supply chain. This project will help small farmers in remote communities build more resilience with the help of Taiwan’s experience in developing climate-smart agriculture and farmer organization management. With the help of Taiwan’s high-quality corn hybrid seed production experience, we can assist in the production and promotion of high-quality seeds, and select high-quality strains suitable for the local climate and environment. This will strengthen the capacity and resilience of small producers to improve the efficiency and stability of corn production. At the end of the project, the yield of corn per unit area (of the beneficiary producers) will increase by 88% (from 1.6 to 3 tons/hectare) compared to the production prior to the project intervention.

Project Objectives：

At the end of the project, the yield of corn per unit area (of the beneficiary producers) will increase by 88% (from 1.6 to 3 tons/hectare) compared to the production prior to the project intervention

Executing Agency：

Guatemalan Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (MAGA) 、Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología Agrícolas ICTA、Taiwan Technical Mission in Guatemala

Current Progress：

To the end of March 2024, the following activities have been completed：

1. Produced 2,650 pounds of breeder’s seeds, which can be used for producing 60 hectares of hybrid maize seed.

2. Produced 5 tons of foundation seeds, which can be used for producing 300 hectares of open-pollinated maize seed.

3. Provided 2 cycle of maize growth data, in cooperation with the Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), to calibrate a crop model.

4. Helped farmers in Baja Verapaz Department with 72 hectares to produce certified seed. With an estimation of average yield of 3 tons per hectare, 216 tons of certified seed will be produced, which can be used for 13,300 hectares in production of maize.

5. Held 36 training sessions for seed production with 540 participants attending.

Project Contact：MAX CHEN

Phone：+886-2-28886139

E-mail：j.j.chen@icdf.org.tw