such as INTA Perla and INTA Reina, Mauricio has obtained yields between 250-300 qq/mz. He was open to try new varieties because he saw the opportunity to obtain better yields, access to a secure market and more income.

With the program he has also learned to make Effective Microorganisms (EM), an organic product that he has applied to yucca, corn, beans and some fruits and vegetables with good results.

“I thank Prospera for giving my son the chance to study at the Emprendedora School. He is currently in his senior year and very happy with his experience there. He has learned English and developed project initiatives such as his yucca-based drink that he presented at the school’s fairs and promoted in the community. My wife has also participated in the pig loan program and has had access to health education and PAP exams. I see that Prospera works with the whole family and that is what makes it different. We are excited to continue working with Prospera. We recently worked on our vulnerability map and asset inventory and there we identified the projects we want to work on as a community.”

Mauricio Gonzalez Mercado

Mauricio Gonzalez Mercado has worked his entire life as a farmer. He learned that trade from his father. He has cultivated yucca for about 15 years planting mainly the traditional varieties such as Cubana, Pochota and Ceiba, which had yields usually of 100 qq/mz . The one with better yields for him was the Cubana variety with 200 qq/mz, but he could not sell it in the local market since people do not like the white flesh color.

Mauricio learned about Prospera Foods through another farmer who advised him to organize in a farmer nucleus to sell to the processing plant. He sold his first 2mz of yucca to the plant about 5 years ago and had good profit since he could sell the entire crop at once.

Since then Mauricio has actively participated in his farmer nucleus and became the leader. He has received training, technical assistance, access to loans, high-quality seeds, and agricultural inputs. With the support of the agronomists and trying new seeds