Silver Spring, Maryland—--A new irrigation project inaugurated on August 6 by the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is helping farmers in six communities in the agricultural region of Santa Barbara, western Honduras, produce quality crops more effectively.

With the support of the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA), a U.S. program run by the Millennium Challenge Corporation, whose objective is to provide aid to developing countries, ADRA is training local farmers in advanced farming technologies, including low irrigation production, and ways to better sell their crops at local and regional markets. Already, dozens of Honduran farmers have started planting tomatoes, cabbage, sweet peppers, broccoli, and cucumbers regularly, as they no longer depend on inefficient irrigation methods to produce crops.

"Before we had to use hoses," said Elida Ondina Castellano, a project beneficiary, remembering how she and her neighbors watered their fields. "Now I will see my children grow up healthy, well nourished. We will reduce malnutrition in our community."

This agricultural project, which uses drip irrigation technology, is improving crop production for 72 farmers in Nueva Esperanza, Nueva Zona, El Edén, La Leona, La Palca, and La Vega, all within the region of Santa Barbara. The project is also directly impacting the food needs of more than 200 families who live in the area. Currently, 84 acres (34 hectares) of farmland are being irrigated with this method.

The MCA project valued at $202,000 also received financial backing from local communities and municipalities who invested nearly $17,000 in resources.

"ADRA is committed to working toward the development of the communities where the needs are the greatest," said Claudio Sandoval, country director for ADRA Honduras.

ADRA has been active in Honduras since 1998, working primarily in the areas of infrastructure, health care, economic development, food security, emergency management, and education.

ADRA is present in 125 countries, providing community development and emergency management without regard to political or religious association, age, gender, race, or ethnicity.

Additional information about ADRA can be found at www.adra.org.

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Author: Nadia McGill / Hearly Mayr

Media Contact: Hearly Mayr Director for Public Awareness ADRA International 12501 Old Columbia Pike Silver Spring, MD 20904 Phone: 301.680.6376 E-mail: Media.Inquiries@adra.org