El Salvador farmer gets staggering results with Fintrac approach

Manuel de Jesus Andrade, a farmer from La Libertad, El Salvador has used Fintrac’s techniques under the USAID/IDEA program to increase his net income from $1,900 to $28,500.

Andrade credits Fintrac’s technical assistance in crop diversification, drip irrigation and calendarization for his dramatic success.

“Before we worked our farm according to our imaginations. Now we work with the security of knowing we will see results. The practices we learned from Fintrac lead to higher quality products, which lead to profit,” Andrade said.

Andrade has diversified his farm by growing cucumbers and green peppers, he has expanded his drip irrigation from one hectare to five hectares and has implemented calendarization ― a system that staggers planting over time to lower investment, provide a regular cash flow, reduce weather damage and increase income with year-round yields.

Overall, Andrade’s sales have increased from $3,400 to $61,000. He currently employs 43 farm workers and has committed to hiring women, unemployed school dropouts from the community and more men.

Andrade sells his produce to buyers in the local market as well as to regional wholesalers. Buyers come to him now because he is recognized in the region for producing high-quality vegetables that are consistently available. He has already invested $17,894 of his revenue to expand drip irrigation and purchase equipment to mechanize production.

Fintrac implements USAID’s Center for Agribusiness Investment, Development and Exports (IDEA) project to increase nontraditional horticulture production and increase incomes for small farmers. Since 2002, the IDEA program has increased sales for farmers and agribusinesses by more than $19 million and has created 2,725 permanent and 4,016 temporary jobs.