Fintrac approach doubles Honduran farmer's sales

FRANCISCO MORAZÁN, Honduras - Yonis Raudales owns a 3.5-acre farm and struggled to make ends meet because of low quality and inconsistent supply. He grew chives, carrots and a traditional variety of chayote, but only made a small profit. With the help of Fintrac, under the USAID-funded RED Project, he has diversified and now also grows zucchini, horseradish and a new, smooth-skinned variety of chayote. Fintrac's technical assistance has helped improve his supply and quality and helped find a regular outlet for his produce. As a result, his sales have more than doubled from $1,600 per month to $4,000 per month.

Raudales began receiving technical assistance in improved production techniques and finance from Fintrac in August 2005. The assistance started with the introduction of good agricultural practices such as drip irrigation, fertigation, raised beds, crop calendarization and crop rotation. Before Fintrac intervention, Raudales was told by local supermarkets that his product could never be marketed because of poor quality. But, after Fintrac assistance, those same buyers were "stunned" by the improved quality, and he now sells consistently to a local supermarket.

"Just being associated with Fintrac-RED has made our markets more certain, and our buyers have confidence in us as producers," Raudales said.

His yields of chives - his most profitable crop - have increased by an average of 44 percent. And when he harvests the new variety of chayote, which Fintrac recommended based on market research, yields and sales will continue to climb.

Based on Fintrac recommendations, Raudales is taking steps toward EurepGAP certification, a stringent set of standards that will help him gain access to more markets. Toward certification he has installed on-farm bathroom facilities, designated areas for pesticide spraying and disposal, and built a storage room for farm inputs. He has also formalized his farm records to further develop credibility with buyers and banks.

Based on his success, Fintrac recommended Raudales to a bank as a responsible producer and received a loan for $2,600 to invest in drip irrigation equipment and support infrastructure for his farm.