CDA Helps Increase Earnings of Carrot Farmers in Intibuca, Honduras

Intibuca, Honduras (November 1st, 2003) - In late 2002, CDA began promoting the planting of carrots in Intibuca as part of its calendarized production programs. After careful analysis of the Honduran carrot market, opportunities for increased, local carrot sales were identified when it was determined that carrots have one of the highest import volumes among cold climate vegetables. In 2002, more than 2.7 million kilograms of carrots were imported into Honduras from neighboring countries.

CDA's technical representatives in Intibuca have been providing technical assistance in carrot production to participating lead clients through weekly visits. Most of the micro and small growers in the region have experience in growing vegetables such as lettuce, broccoli, beet root, and cauliflower; however, most of them had not incorporated carrots into their crop rotations before CDA encouraged them to do so. Assistance provided to the growers includes land preparation, irrigation, sowing, calendarization of planting, crop rotation, pest and disease identification and control, fertilization programs, harvest systems, postharvest handling, and marketing and sales assistance.

After only nine months of implementation, results have been excellent. Twenty growers have planted 11.2 hectares (16 manzanas) of carrots. Yields of harvested areas were 21,500 Kgs/hectare (33,000 lbs./Mzs.) compared with the national average of 14,200 Kgs./hectare. Gross sales per manzana of carrot planted are estimated to total $5,600 with an average production cost of $2,000 per manzana. One of the carrot distributors working with 20 micro and small carrot producers has increased sales by over 100 percent, from an average of 1,000 Kgs per month during 2002 to 2,113 Kgs per month during the first 8 months of 2003. Increased production allowed this distributor to increase carrot deliveries to existing buyers by 37 percent and to start new business with a supermarket chain in Tegucigalpa.

Growers in the carrot program have now incorporated the crop into their regular calendarized planting for better crop rotation and to reduce production and market risks associated with lack of productivity and diversity. Volumes should continue to increase in the upcoming months as all of the growers involved in the program have experienced increased sales and earnings since planting carrots. The current program is has cut Honduran carrot imports by 13 percent and this level is expected to increase to 30 percent as the program expands and neighboring farmers see the success of other producers.