Mario René Díaz Peña (pictured on the left in the photo above) has found a passion and a purpose in agriculture. At 24 years old, he is part of the El Limón Production Group, a beneficiary of the Integrated Rural Development and Productivity Project (ProOccidente). As a young farmer living in El Limón, in Santa Rita, Copán, he has managed to establish himself as a producer of high-quality chili peppers thanks to the support of ProOccidente.
The project, implemented by ACDI/VOCA, is a five-year initiative led by Honduras’s Secretariat of Agriculture and Livestock (SAG). ProOccidente aims to boost the incomes of rural families in the Honduran Dry Corridor, a food producing region in western Honduras prone to extreme weather.
Agriculture with Purpose
Peña received access to mesh houses, drip irrigation, and technical assistance, which helped him to specialize and improve his productivity as well as reduce the risks of climate variability and pests in his crops.
His group’s investment plan allowed them to intervene in 12.4 hectares, benefiting 122 families. Peña is one of the young people who, with effort and dedication, has managed to position himself as a model producer in his community. “The only thing needed is the desire to improve,” he said.
“Dreams can come true here, without the need to migrate. You just need the desire to work and to have a clear dream.” — Mario René Díaz Peña
Technology that Transforms
Access to mesh houses and drip irrigation has been key to improving the efficiency of crops. These tools allow for better control of the environment, fewer pests, and less use of agrochemicals, protecting both the health of both the farmers and the soil itself.
In addition to learning how to improve crop production, Peña also participates in training processes on gender, nutrition, and food security, along with more than 2,000 people trained in the region by ProOccidente. For him, agriculture is “the best job in the world because it is not harmful,” he said. His story reflects how access to technology and knowledge empowers young farmers to strengthen the future of Honduran agriculture.
About ProOccidente
ProOccidente works with multiple partners, including local producers, the private sector, indigenous organizations, and small and medium enterprises, to build sustainable economic and climate resilience and reduce migration out of the country, promoting self-reliance through local ownership.
ProOccidente is providing technical assistance and training to more than 10,000 agriculture and livestock producers across six departments and 88 municipalities by helping them adopt new climate-smart technologies and practices and improving their access to finance.
Activities take place in the western departments of Santa Bárbara, Copán, Ocotepeque, Intibucá, Lempira, and La Paz, focusing on horticulture, fruit, coffee, cacao, dairy cattle, and those related to cultural products of ethnic origin.
The project is funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) through the Fund for the Promotion of Development (FONPRODE).
