For as long as we can remember, our life was marked by the need to migrate during the coffee-harvest season to the state of Chiapas, Mexico. It was the only way to earn an income and support our families. As farmers from this community, we had no access to education or a profession; from a young age, we learned to earn our daily bread by the sweat of our brow.
Our knowledge of working the land was limited. When crops got sick, we simply accepted the losses, with no idea how to handle them. We depended on the little we managed to produce and on what we obtained elsewhere — even basic foods that, because of the distance and the poor condition of the roads, were difficult to get.
However, everything began to change a year ago, when the Foundation came to our community. Through technical support and ongoing training, we began to acquire new knowledge that transformed the way we work. We learned to make natural fertilizers and to improve our crops — especially tomatoes, a product that had never been grown in this area and was previously hard to obtain. Today we have it within reach, and that means a great deal to us. Every lesson became a valuable experience that strengthened us.
Today, a year after the project began, the change has been significant. We no longer need to migrate; now I work with my family on something that belongs to us. Our diet has also improved, because we produce our own food.
I was able to harvest 23 quintals of tomatoes — and the most important thing is that we didn’t have to transport them to the municipal seat to sell them. Our own neighbors bought the product, also benefiting from its quality. With the earnings I made, I invested in a new macro tunnel, with the vision of continuing to produce and offering more variety to my community.
Knowledge has made the difference. Before, we didn’t know how to care for our crops; today, using local resources, we can prevent and solve problems without having to buy outside inputs. Our work has evolved so much that even other people in the community now come, ask questions, and want to learn.
But beyond the productive side, the biggest change has been in my personal life. I’m happy to have my family together, to work side by side, and not to have to split up to find a way to make a living. Today I have greater peace of mind, because I know I can put food on the table and cover my household’s needs. My quality of life has improved.
I used to travel to Chiapas to harvest coffee; today I dream of going back, but not as a day laborer — as a producer. I want to arrive and say with pride: “I have quality products to offer.”
To those who are starting a business, I want to say: don’t get discouraged. Keep at it and believe in what you do, because in our country, with dedication, it really is possible to move forward.
