Support to Agricultural Development Fund Programme, FondeAgro

The implementation of the FondeAgro program under the Ministry and Forestry which is financed by Sida started in 2001 and covered a period of ten years, divided into three phases. The program aimed at increasing the quality and production of coffee and livestock products in five municipalities in Matagalpa and Jinotega (Matiguás, Río Blanco, Paiwas, Wiwilí and El Cuá). The programme included components such as: product diversification and commercialization, family economy, credits for production investment, land rights issues and institutional support at ministry and municipal level. The project activities had a high degree of participation by different regional stakeholders, local population and their local governments.

The overall objective was poverty alleviation through increased income in the rural parts of the two provinces in Northern Nicaragua.The main target group was small and medium coffee and dairy farmers who nevertheless have potential for development through integrated farm management. The objective for the farmers was to increase their income through a sustainable management of the production capacity of the farm, for which they develop farm management plans, which combine economical, environmental and social aspects. Other important beneficiaries of the programme were farm owners who were being supported in accessing credit and farmers supported in technical assistance for homestead economy. The programme was implemented together with regional and local co-implementators, especially within the provision of credit and technical assistance, and these institutions were also beneficiaries of the programme in receiving capacity building and institutional support. Institutional support was also given to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and to the municipalities.