FIELD FOCUS
Fertile Ground
By Dulce Gamboa
When asked to describe herself, Maria Roblero, 26, says
proudly, “I am an agroecological promoter.” She is also an
expert in organic fertilizer.
Maria, a small-holder farmer, lives in La Vega del Volcan,
a community in the Sibinal department in western Guate- Smallholder farmer Maria Roblero has become an expert in organic
mala, with her husband and four children. She started el- fertilizer, a skill that has helped her and her family escape hunger.
ementary school at age 10 and stayed enrolled until third
grade. Maria knew there would be an opportunity for her to
no money, they rely on selling seedlings, and Maria makes
escape hunger. She has prayed for it since she was 13.
That moment came when Maria and her husband, Ar- sure to always have some in her greenhouse for emergencies.
nulfo Roblero, received training on how to prepare organic This greenhouse represents not only food security but also
fertilizer, called bocashi, about two years ago. They were an additional source of income.
Recently, Maria and Arnulfo started a new venture. They
spending too much money out of their already-tight budget
are now working on a trout pond, following the lead of a
on fertilizers and pesticides. It made sense to take advantage
of all the natural resources available on their land to prepare newly formed cooperative. This is a project implemented
fertilizer and pesticides: wood, cow and chicken manure, tree by the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) and partially
funded by Foods Resource Bank (FRB).
foliage, cow urine, worms, garlic, and such.
Maria is delighted to have a fish pond on
Being an agroecological promoter is a
“Maria and Arnulfo, along
her plot. Arnulfo’s plan is to get better at
way of life. Two years ago, Maria named her
with others in their comraising fish, to have enough for self-conplot “Flower of the Field.” The fruits, vegsumption and more to potentially sell. He
etables, and medicinal plants she grows are munity, are becoming
all organic. Maria has a bold vision: finding e