Agros

Making More With Less

What Climate-Smart Means When It Comes to Fertilizers

In the Agros villages of La Bendición and San José, Nicaragua, 67 farmers have been trained to prepare bio-fertilizers. Bio-fertilizers are made from products like manure, naturally occurring elements such as magnesium, and ash. They are cheaper to acquire and more environmentally friendly than traditional chemical fertilizers such as Urea. Urea and other nitrogen-based fertilizers generate large amounts of methane when manufactured and emit ammonia to the atmosphere when released in the soil, contributing to greenhouse gases. Training farmers to use bio-fertilizers helps Agros meet our goal of helping hundreds of farmers produce more food, generate more income, and lessen their climate impact. 

Agros farmers are excited to learn about bio-fertilizers so that they can protect their livelihoods, their families, and our home—the earth. 

*Scroll down to see how you can help more farmers learn to use these innovative methods*

 

One of the Agros farmers, Hipólito ‘Polo’ Chavarria, shared his experience with learning and implementing this fertilizer process, and why it’s important.

“We used to have the easiest practices, but they were the most expensive and the most harmful. We only had to go and buy chemicals and then apply it to our crops. That limited the income for our families, and, apart from that, we ran the risk of chronic illness from applying chemicals without protection.
Truthfully, we are very grateful to Agros. Bio-fertilizers are new to me, and it’s a process to unlearn bad practices. I’m also conscious of having damaged the soil, the environment, or simply put, our communal home. We can’t keep doing that. We have to implement these practices that are more environmentally friendly!”
'Polo' shows off coffee beans that he grew himself!

Agros farmer, Juana Chavarría shares her experience working with this improved process, as well as  some wise words.

“Preparing and applying bio-fertilizers only requires a little bit of time and effort. It’s amazing that we have all the materials, like ash, whey, and cow manure, that we need available in the community or close to here. I tell my kids that we must pass on a better planet to future generations, so we have to learn to prepare bio-fertilizers.
They are not toxic, and we can apply them without fear of getting sick ourselves. Our community is rich in water, but if we keep using chemical products, we would contaminate the water source. Where would we get our water then? That’s why we are changing our old practices. It will take time but it’s never too late to start. We are taking action now, so we won’t be sad later.” 
Juana mixes a new batch of bio-fertilizer.

Farmers like Juana, Polo, and their fellow farmers in Nicaragua are facing unprecedented challenges as they begin the planting season. Challenges that you can help alleviate. You can provide hope to a family in a desperate time.

The cost of fertilizer has risen 211% in the last year, so Agros wants to be able to relieve this burden. We need your help to pay for the equipment and necessary support to transition more farmers to biofertilizers, instead of the harmful chemical fertilizers.

Because of the urgent need for support during the planting season, a generous donor has stepped up to offer a matching fund up to $25,000.

That means if you give a gift before July 1, your gift will be MATCHED for double the impact!

Click Here to Make A Gift

“Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received”

1 Peter 4:10

Please feel free to reach out to us with any questions and follow us on social media to stay updated.

Blessings.

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Mackenzie Cruz

Mackenzie Cruz

Mackenzie is the Digital Communications Officer at Agros International.

She manages all things social media, e-mail, website, brand…you name it! Her professional passion has taken her throughout all kind of industries, but all roads pointed to her passion for nonprofit work and marketing colliding.

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biofertilizer, central america, cost of living, fertilizer, inflation, nicaragua, nonprofit

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