Shared Interest Foundation Annual Review 2022 - Flipbook - Page 13
SHARED INTEREST FOUNDATION ANNUAL REVIEW 2022 13
Building sustainable livelihoods
Supporting women into organic sesame farming
LOCATION:
PARTICIPANTS:
Nicaragua
40 female sesame
farmers
In the communities surrounding the
Coproexnic sesame co-operative in
rural Nicaragua, many women rely on
an average income of just over £50
per month from the sale of chickens
and eggs. They subsequently
struggle to meet the basic needs of
their household.
Working in partnership with
Coproexnic, we supported 40 local
women to grow organic sesame
and achieve a sustainable source
of income. Training in GAP was
delivered by a representative
from the Agricultural Protection
and Health Institute and practical
demonstrations in organic fertiliser
production were delivered by a
consultant from the Food Safety
Office.
In December 2021, following a
comprehensive inspection process,
the women’s land was certified
organic by Mayacert, an organic
certification organisation. This
certification enabled the women
to sell their sesame on the organic
market for an increased price.
The group had their first sesame
harvest in January 2022. In total,
16.7 tonnes of sesame was
harvested with a value of over
24,000 US Dollars.
Sesame seed plant on a Coproexnic farm in Nicaragua
No Poverty (1), Gender
Equality (5), Decent Work
and Economic Growth (8),
Partnerships for the Goals (17)
“Before we didn’t have
it [sesame farm] and
now I have it and that’s
a big advantage, I am
a businesswoman with
my sesame. Before the
women here couldn’t even
grab a machete, and now
I am able to. I feel proud
and satisfied because us
women were remembered.”
Zaida Benita Niño Sotelo,
project participant