This year, Prospera supported me with the installation of an irrigation system and a greenhouse in my farm that allow me to plant yucca with irrigation and plant other crops such as pepper, tomato and cucumber. The system was installed in June 2019 and six month later I have already harvested the yucca, which together with the vegetables have generated more than $ 1,000.00 in sales. With that income I have been able to finish the construction of my house as well as to plant other crops with irrigation such as watermelon. I expect to generate an additional $1,600 in sales from watermelon and vegetables by February next year. 

Thanks to the support of Prospera, I have been able to manage my farm more efficiently and generate a better income distribution throughout the year by diversifying and using technology. I have also been able to use my profits to invest in finishing my house, the education of my children and food for the family. With this initiative, I can see how Prospera is helping and motivating young people to work in agriculture and generate income within our community. 

José Luis Valle Briones

My name is José Luis Valle Briones. I am from the Dolores Community located 40 km away from Granada. My family is made up of 4 members, my wife Perla Miranda, my daughter Abigail, 11 years old, and my son Deybi, 8 years old, both currently attend the 5th and 2nd grade of elementary school. 

In our community, people mainly work in agriculture, especially planting yucca. The challenge we have is not having a steady income since this crop is planted in May and harvested between December and January. For the rest of the year we have little income, leading most of the farmers to sell their labor in nearby farms or work in the sugar cane plantations.

Prospera has been working with us on how to improve our production efficiency and have better yields supporting farmers with technical assistance, training and inputs. However, we have expressed our concern as young farmers that often we do not have access to technology and loans that would allow us to plant other crops.