Carlos Zavala is a vegetable grower for AGRIDAN, a business located in the city of Danlí in the south eastern Honduran department of El Paraíso. AGRIDAN is an association of about 20 people who grow fresh produce such as bell peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, sweet corn, and lettuce. Through the De Mi Tierra program, the growers have access to financing for working capital and investments.
“We are able to grow crops all year round. And we have increased productivity, yields, and quality by being able to buy the right supplies at the right time. This has had a very positive impact not just on ourselves but for everyone involved, including our suppliers and all our families. And by expanding yields we have created new jobs.”
Hi Carlos. Please tell us a little about your business.
I grow chillies, tomatoes, grains, and a range of vegetables. It all started with a conversation between friends, and we all decided just to give it a go. Of course, we have had our ups and downs but, by the grace of God, we are still working hard and continuing to improve our standards of living.
What does your partnership with Ficohsa entail?
I currently receive financing through Ficohsa’s De Mi Tierra or “Of My Land” program. This has helped our growers a lot. The funding enables us to buy the agricultural supplies that we need for production, at the time that we need them. When we do not have enough capital to carry out necessary activities, such as fertilization or pest control, the De Mi Tierra program helps us to get around this problem. Now I have sufficient resources at the right time to improve my production.
How has the De Mi Tierra program helped to grow your business?
There are many benefits of receiving financing through the De Mi Tierra program. Firstly, we are able to grow crops all year round. But we have increased productivity, yields, and quality by being able to buy the right supplies at the right time.
Before we joined the De Mi Tierra program, we had no access to financing. It just wasn’t possible to work with other lenders because they demanded unreasonable guarantees. So we had to struggle alone, restricted to our own capital, which was not enough to keep us productive. In most cases, the only capital that producers have is the income from sales of the vegetable crop. But that limits what you can do.
But with access to De Mi Tierra’s capital, we don’t face those problems, and we have achieved greater economic stability. This has had a very positive impact not just on ourselves but for everyone involved, including our suppliers and all our families. And by expanding yields we have created new jobs.
As well as financing, how else does the De Mi Tierra program help?
We have relied on Ficohsa’s technical support when we have needed it most. The staff of Ficohsa’s De Mi Tierra program totally understand our whole production process, and so they are able to give the best advice. They have also provided us with useful financial education that has further improved our economic stability. We really appreciate the personal attention that we get.