Agriculture Impact

In Guatemala, nearly 60% of the population lives in poverty, with one in four people earning less than $3.20 a day (CIA World Factbook, World Bank Group). Many of the poorest families rely on subsistence farming and grow just enough food to eat day to day. Few own large plots of land, so many take seasonal jobs as day laborers on local plantations. Their meager incomes are barely enough to buy a little rice to eat, much less repair their crumbling homes or send their children to school.

While it may seem that these families are forever trapped by the chains of poverty, there is hope. Through the work of the Church and our vision to relieve poverty in Guatemala, a positive transformation is underway.

During the 2022 fiscal year, Cross Catholic Outreach partnered with Caritas Suchitepéquez-Retalhuleu to bless 400 poor farming families with agricultural training to grow cash crops as well as training and supplies to grow organic home gardens.

This agricultural support helped families increase harvests, improve their diets and work toward long-term self-sufficiency. Training workshops were infused with faith lessons and included Bible reflections and teachings on solidarity, leadership and Christian values. Thanks to this program, farming families are equipped with practical solutions to overcome poverty — and they have also grown in faith!