Sowing Opportunities
Phases 1-5
CURRENT NEED FOR PHASE 3: $10K FOR CORGUATE TO TRAVEL TO CHAJMAIC TO PLACE A DEPOSIT ON LAND, TO SECURE IT FOR FARMING BEFORE ONSET OF RAINY SEASON
Phase 1 (April-July 2015) determined that:
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The village is interested in having a reliable source of income through agriculture
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Tabasco chili peppers are the most consistently viable crop that can be grown on an ongoing basis in the area
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That there is a similar program in Nicaragua that hires people throughout the country to grow Tabasco chili peppers for a stable market through USAID.
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CorGuate was established to develop agricultural self-sustainability, one village at a time, in Guatemala.
In Phase 2, we raised $4,600 and:
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Sent the project manager and agricultural engineer of CorGuate to observe a chili farm. They met with a contracted company to buy chili peppers from the Chajmaic farm (end of November 2015).
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Sent the project manager, agricultural engineer, and social worker to Chajmaic to begin negotiations for land and establish trust with the people (mid December 2015).
In Phase 3 (May 2016), we are seeking to raise $10,000 to send the CorGuate team to Chajmaic to secure the land.
In Phase 4 (June 2016-June 2017), we are seeking to raise $200,000 to pay for land rental (9 acres) for one year, preparation of the land, equipment and seeds, training of and pay for farm workers.
In Phase 5 (2017), CorGuate intends to plant, cultivate the harvest, and sell the product.