by Francisco Barquero
WCCN Loan Fund Representative in Nicaragua

Doña Marianita Sánchez is a poor campesina who lives in the rural community of Trinidad Central, on the western edge of the department of Managua. Like all rural communities in the department, Trinidad Central has serious social and economic problems.

In this community, children have to walk a long way to school. Water is provided by an artesian well, managed by a community-organized board. Doña Marianita and her neighbors have water only every other day. A narrow path that is almost inaccessible during the rainy season links the community with Ciudad Sandino, the nearest town.

Despite these and other difficulties, ACODEP is providing microfinance services to many poor families of this rural community. Doña Marianita and her family are among them. This extended family consists of Doña Marianita and her husband, one married son, one married daughter and two single daughters. Five grandchildren complete the family.

Currently, they cultivate a small parcel of about 17 acres. They grow corn, bean, sorghum, watermelon, tomatoes and other vegetables such as ayotes and pipianes. All the family members work on the farm. One of her daughters is studying business administration on Saturdays and works on the farm during the weekdays. They sell their grain, vegetables and fruit directly to end consumers, who are poor families from Ciudad Sandino. Thus, these consumers buy fresher and cheaper foods from Doña Marianita and her family than they would from a supermarket.

However, the success of this humble family has required great efforts. They began cultivating 3.5 acres in 1979. Then they bought 7.7 acres between 1984 and 1987. But, the family was growing and needed additional land. Besides, the land was sharply eroded and the small plot was not registered. They urgently needed external financing but they did not have access to bank credit. They were stagnant.

Fortunately, Doña Marianita got an intial loan of around $400 from ACODEP in 2002. She used part of this to grow watermelon, tomatoes, beans and sorghum. The other part helped to buy around 6.1 acres of additional land. Since then, she has obtained eight more loans. The production of grain, vegetables and fruits has greatly improved. Also, Doña Marianita has now chickens and pigs.

She explained that a portion of ACODEP’s loans helped to register the farm at the property deed office. Now, she and her family feel very secure in their land holding. Their housing condition has also greatly improved. The erosion has stopped and trees are growing on the farm. Doña Marianita has reserved a small portion of the farm as forest, which has helped to greatly improve the natural resources and hygienic conditions on the farm.

Doña Marianita said she is very satisfied and grateful to ACODEP. She said that ACODEP has progressively increased the amount of the loans. She also said that other small farmers and poor women from the community obtain loans from ACODEP. Finally, she sent special greetings to WCCN’s members for their commitment to the needs of the Nicaraguan poor, like the members of her community.