As part of our regional conference in Latin America, we visited Pacho Gangotena’s agroecological farm, a short drive from Ecuador’s capital, Quito. Finca Chaupi Molina is not just any agroecological farm. Over 32,000 Indigenous farmers and technicians have crossed its grounds to learn from Pacho and transform their own farms and chakras into healthy, regenerative systems. Harmony is the first word that comes to mind when crossing its humble gates. Striking simplicity and care were applied to … [Read more...] about Practical Lessons from Pacho Gangotena’s Agroecological Farm in Ecuador
Farmer Stories
The Silence of the Land: A Story Written by Young Storytellers from Mexico
As part of an activity within the Youth Storytellers Program with Centéotl in Mexico, youth set out to create a short journalistic chronicle rooted in their own territory. The exercise was designed as a hands-on experience to strengthen writing and research skills, while also putting into practice different tools for observation and contextual analysis. Throughout the process, the youth worked on preparing interviews, both planned and spontaneous, and on developing skills for engaging with … [Read more...] about The Silence of the Land: A Story Written by Young Storytellers from Mexico
Nancy’s hands: from rock to fertile soil
This article was originally published in Spanish. Read it here. Nancy is an Indigenous farmer from the community of Tunshi Grande, Ecuador. Over the last few years, she has participated in a group process supported by our local partner, EkoRural, in which several families redesigned their farms to strengthen production and restore agroecological practices. The work began with drawing a map of the land. From there, each family organized their plot, located water sources, identified the … [Read more...] about Nancy’s hands: from rock to fertile soil
How Joining a Women’s Savings Group Helped This Farmer Survive Cancer
Farmers in Nepal, especially women, face a host of intersecting challenges. Many work with limited resources under difficult conditions, while also managing livestock, household responsibilities, and their children’s education from a young age. This burden takes a toll on their health and ability to sustain a livelihood. Women farmers are also particularly exposed to toxic pesticides—a result of structural inequality and poor regulation. As Nepali Times reports, "women and Dalit households … [Read more...] about How Joining a Women’s Savings Group Helped This Farmer Survive Cancer
Displaced Women Farmers in Burkina Faso: Symbols of Courage Amid Rising Violence
Sixty-four-year-old Tindano Pobarou, a mother of nine (five daughters and four sons), lived a peaceful life in the village of Bassieri. But one night, at 3 AM, she was forced to flee her home as armed groups attacked her village. She and her family crossed multiple dangerous regions with little time to prepare, and life as she knew it was turned upside down. The land she cultivated, the home she built, and the security she once had were gone. Yet, Pobarou refused to give up. She kept crossing … [Read more...] about Displaced Women Farmers in Burkina Faso: Symbols of Courage Amid Rising Violence
How Penda Turned a Dumping Ground into an Agroecological Urban Farm in Senegal
It's April. The temperature hovers at 104F (40°C). The ground feels hot beneath our feet, the wind is dry, and the air is heavy. Half-built buildings with brick and concrete walls line narrow sandy streets, where women stride with heads held high and shoulders back, balancing fruit baskets atop their heads. The sky isn't as gray as in downtown Thiès or Dakar, but pollution still lingers, with faint smells of burning waste. Baobab trees, their branches bare, and a few thorny bushes are the only … [Read more...] about How Penda Turned a Dumping Ground into an Agroecological Urban Farm in Senegal