Small farmer triples income with help from Fintrac

Regino Ramirez, a small-scale Honduran farmer, has increased his production of celery from 1,000 bunches to 3,000 bunches per week, resulting in a jump in sales income from $80 to $240 per week.

Ramirez says that his success is attributable to the intervention of USAID-RED, a four-year project implemented by Fintrac.

“Previously, in many occasions, I could not harvest even a celery leaf due to Alternaria disease problems. Now with the assistance I am receiving from USAID-RED, I have knowledge and better control of pest and diseases. All the agricultural practices that I have learned for celery production are being implemented in my other vegetables such as parsley and spinach,” Ramirez said.

Ramirez uses good agricultural practices recommended by Fintrac on the three lots that he owns in the province of Francisco Morazán. The technical assistance from Fintrac focused on good agricultural practices including raised beds, drip irrigation, staggered crop systems, crop rotation and integrated pest and disease management.

The increase in production on Ramirez’s farm has generated five temporary jobs that have been filled by women. Ramirez provides celery to Hortifruti ― a distributor that supplies vegetables to various supermarkets ― at least three times per week and to local markets in Tegucigalpa and Comayaguela.

“Regino (Ramirez) is one of our best producers with supply and he is quick to implement best practices for production and handling of the products,” said Marcos Salas, a Hortifruti purchase manager.

Regino Ramirez on his celery farm in Francisco Morazán, Honduras			Celery production on the farm has tripled with Fintrac’s help