Anibal eventually found stability when he met and married Dalila Hernández 12 years ago. Together, they built a life centered around their two daughters, Nielka (10) and Sayani (6). The couple married both civilly and in the Church, and their faith has remained a constant source of strength. For the past eight years, they have lived in El Carmen 2 village, Matagalpa, Nicaragua, in a home that Anibal built with his own hands. Made of zinc and wood, it has two small rooms, a living area, and a kitchen separated from the main house. At first, they only had a latrine, but thanks to Agros’ support, they now have two bathrooms with a proper toilet — a first for the Rayo family.
While Anibal owns a small half-acre plot where he grows coffee, his income was never enough to meet his family’s needs. His work as a day laborer on coffee farms was grueling, keeping him away from home for long hours. But Anibal’s determination to give his family a better future never wavered.
In October 2023, opportunity knocked on Anibal’s door — literally. Agros representatives visited his home, as part of an initiative to meet with local farmers. When they shared their mission of supporting farmers with technical assistance, crop diversification, and financial tools, Anibal saw a chance to rewrite his story.
He was particularly drawn to the opportunity to receive training and support in vegetable production — a field he had little experience in but saw as a pathway to economic stability. “I’ve always wanted to try something new,” he said. “I thought this was my chance, and I decided to give it a go.”
With the guidance of Agros’ technical advisors, Anibal began cultivating Nathalie chili peppers in a mesh-protected plot. This method offered better crop protection and increased production capacity. His journey into vegetable farming wasn’t without challenges, but Anibal leaned on his faith and perseverance.
Here are some of his impressive achievements in 2024:
● Production Goal: 56,000 units
● Actual Achievement: 245,911 units of vegetables. More than 4x the goal!
● Net Income Achieved: $13,212
● Net Income Per Capita Achieved: $7.38
“Nathalie chili peppers are something new for me, but I’ve felt good, thank God. Every job is challenging at first, but one can adapt,” he shares. “Although there are times when it’s tough, it’s less strenuous than my previous work, and the profits are better.”
Aníbal has exceeded all expectations with his farming results.
Anibal’s dreams are rooted in hope and perseverance. He dreams of building a better home for his family. “Our dream is to improve our house with better conditions, to make it out of quarry stone and concrete,” he says. While his current house of zinc and wood has served them for years, he aspires to offer his daughters a stronger, more permanent shelter.
But his ambitions don’t end there. Anibal hopes to buy a larger plot of land, one where he can expand his farming activities. With the income from his vegetable production, he sees this dream as increasingly within reach.
“I trust that we will achieve this dream soon,” he says with quiet determination
