Combating Hunger: Sustainable Farming Training in Guatemala

In Guatemala, international aid programs are addressing hunger and malnutrition brought by severe droughts in rural areas. The U.N.'s World Food Program focuses on training locals in sustainable farming practices. This initiative aims to reduce the country's high rates of stunting in children and mitigate climate change impacts.

In the rural regions of Guatemala, the relentless threats of drought and crop failure are driving the nation into a crisis of hunger and malnutrition. The U.N.'s World Food Program has set its sights on solving this issue by educating locals on sustainable farming methods. This effort is crucial in a country where malnutrition, especially among children, is rampant and stunting rates are among the highest in Latin America.

Guatemala is situated within the Central American Dry Corridor, a region that has faced a decade-long onslaught of severe droughts and extreme weather conditions, including devastating hurricanes. These natural calamities have left small and medium-sized farmers, particularly in Indigenous communities, struggling to provide sufficient food for their families.

Training provided by the World Food Program emphasizes innovative and proactive approaches to crop management. According to Tania Goossens of the World Food Program, these methods are helping communities withstand climate challenges and maintain agricultural productivity. The program's success is becoming a model for other countries facing similar climate change challenges.

(With inputs from agencies.)