Community biofactories, rainwater harvesting systems, nurseries to renew coffee plantations, and new agricultural practices are already being implemented in Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador to strengthen production systems and respond to climate challenges across the Trifinio region.
These initiatives are part of the Climate-Smart Community Development Plans (PDCCI, for their acronym in Spanish), developed through a participatory process based on the needs, knowledge, and priorities identified by the communities themselves.
Community representatives from all three countries are involved in their development and implementation, alongside Plan Trifinio, the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE), and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), through the Biodiverse Landscapes Fund (BLF). The plans aim to strengthen the resilience of these territories through solutions adapted to local conditions.
Biofactories: investing in sustainable production
One of the main initiatives under the PDCCI has been the establishment of community biofactories, spaces where local producers prepare biological inputs using mountain microorganisms for use in crops, nurseries, and livestock production systems.
The process begins with the collection of microorganism-rich material from forest areas. These microorganisms are then reproduced through several stages to produce preparations that can be applied in different productive activities.
Producers from all three countries learned the technique through training sessions conducted by CATIE and WCS as part of the BLF. Building on these experiences, knowledge is also beginning to circulate among farmers from different areas of the Trifinio region.
These inputs can help reduce dependence on agrochemicals and the costs associated with their use, while expanding the range of practices available for crop and soil management.
There are currently 12 community biofactories operating across the Trifinio region, seven of them in Guatemala.
Guatemala: nurseries, bioinputs, and water for production
Several of these solutions are already being implemented in the Pericos community. Among them is a community nursery with the capacity to produce more than 100,000 coffee plants to help renew coffee plantations.
Bioinputs are also being used in backyard poultry production. Glenda Lisseth Guerra Pérez, a member of the community, says she has seen changes since she began using them.
“The chickens grow faster, are stronger, and don’t get sick as often.”
The community plan also includes rainwater harvesting systems, hydroponics, and aquaponics—alternatives designed to reduce vulnerability during periods of drought and expand the options available to farming families.
In the El Mojón community, Rodrigo García Vázquez began applying bioinputs to his maize plot. His experience reflects both the potential of these practices and one of the main challenges agriculture continues to face across the region: water availability.
“At first, we were skeptical, but now we can see that it works. The maize has grown well, although rainfall remains essential.”
Honduras: innovation that spreads
In Ocotepeque, Honduras, a nursery operated by the COSCAFEL Cooperative was inaugurated as one of the initiatives included in the PDCCI to support the renewal of coffee plantations.
The nursery uses biodegradable mesh as an alternative to traditional plastic bags and has a solar-powered water harvesting and pumping system to supply water for plant production.
In Sinuapa, Jaime Humberto Heras was one of the first producers in his community to incorporate bioinputs into his maize crop after taking part in training sessions held in Guatemala.
His experience sparked the interest of other farmers, including Carlos Pleytez, who began comparing different crop management approaches in his carrot field.
In a comparative plot managed by the producer, initial observations show differences in root development among the different treatments. Technical monitoring is ongoing to assess their performance.
El Salvador: a biofactory connecting women producers
In the El Llano community, Doris Ramos operates a community biofactory where she prepares inputs that she shares with a network of women producers who manage household gardens.
This collaboration has helped introduce these practices into cucumber, escarole, and radish production, while knowledge acquired through the training sessions is shared among members of the network.
Her sister, Esmeralda Ramos, also uses the preparations in backyard poultry production. In this way, the same practice is beginning to be applied across different activities within the community.
From local experiences to a regional strategy
The Climate-Smart Community Development Plans were officially presented on July 30 during an event held at the Plan Trifinio offices in Esquipulas, Guatemala.
The event brought together community representatives, public institutions, and partner organizations to share progress and coordinate the next steps in implementation.
Participants included Marijose Vilá, BLF Coordinator for Mesoamerica at the British Embassy; César Augusto Beltetón Chacón, Executive Director of Plan Trifinio Guatemala; and Gerson Alvarado, WCS Coordinator for BLF activities in Trifinio.
Ximena Leiva, Director of the BLF Programme for Mesoamerica, and Víctor Hugo Ramos of WCS joined virtually. Ramos presented an analysis of the region’s climate outlook and the potential effects of El Niño on drought conditions and water availability.
The experiences documented in Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador show how the PDCCI are beginning to translate into concrete actions: nurseries, biofactories, water harvesting systems, and new production practices developed together with communities.
Water availability remains one of the main challenges across many of these areas. In the face of an increasingly variable climate, the PDCCI provide a way to test solutions adapted to each local context while also sharing lessons and experiences among communities in Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador.
Learn more about the PDCCI here