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 June 2023, the following activities have been completed：

1. Completed the seed cost and need survey, designed the corn seed distribution and loan lending model, and collected the weather data of the Baja Verapaz Province in Guatemala;

2. Held 2 seminars on improved corn seed selection and production technology improvement;

3. Conducted 4 hectares of land preparation and irrigation facilities for the breeders' seed field;

4. Trained 16 Ministry of Agriculture extension officers and conducted 7 training sessions;

5. Completed a corn seed production technical manual and a field cultivation calendar; 

6. Held a National Corn Festival.

Project Contact：MAX CHEN

Phone：+886-2-28886139

E-mail：j.j.chen@icdf.org.tw