Although efforts to secure an SHI program in Nicaragua began in 1997, funding did not come through until late 1999.  Farmers and cooperatives requested SHI's assistance because their way of life was threatened by environmental degradation. The Autonomous Region of the South Atlantic Coast (Spanish acronym: RAAS) is home to a diverse mixture of indigenous people, Creoles, Garifunas and Mestizos who prize stewardship of their environmental resources.  Nonetheless, most food in the RAAS comes from fishing and slash-and-burn farming.  Population pressures similar to those throughout Central America have created a shortage of arable land. Continued use of slash-and-burn farming in the region is turning much of Nicaragua into a desert. 

In February 2000, Sustainable Harvest International began work in the RAAS region of Nicaragua and in 2007 Sustainable Harvest Nicaragua received its status as a local independent affiliate of Sustainable Harvest International. They are recognized by the Nicaraguan government as an official Nicaraguan non-profit organization. They have elected their own local Board of Directors and are working hard to expand the program to work with additional families in need. Program Director Marvin Gonzales said, "Responsibility has been given to the local field trainers to make decisions. Plans are made from the bottom up, according to what the farmers would like to do that will give good results."

Sustainable Harvest Nicaragua currently works with 180 families on the remote Atlantic Coast and will be expanding the program to include 60 families in six communities in the Kukra Hill Region during the coming year.

Click here to meet the SHI Staff in Nicaragua.
Click here to read testimonials from our Nicaragua program.
Click here to learn about Smaller World Service Tours to Nicaragua.