A Cycle of Challenges

The Tumbabiro Parish is located in the valley of the Urcuqui Canton, province of Imbabura. While its population is mostly a blend of Spanish and Indigenous ancestry, within this same area there are Afro-Ecuadorian populations.

The most prevalent challenge in this community is related to the economic situation. For years, there has been a continual cycle of economic issues: low development of agricultural production, limited tourist activities, an inefficient marketing system, and marked difficulty in accessing credits that allow investment in the agricultural and tourism sector.

Farms as a Path to Opportunities

CHOICE Humanitarian in Ecuador began working in the Tumbabiro Valley in 2021 in a strategic alliance with the Santa Agua de Chachimbiro Public Company (EPCH) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAGAP). Through this cooperation, several projects began focusing on economic development, food security, and agricultural production. One of these projects was the implementation of farms to improve food supplies, diversify crops, and encourage agrotourism.

In this project, CHOICE worked with community members to put 40 integrated agroecological farms of fruit trees and gardens into action. Many farms also included pig herds. These efforts to improve food nutrition—combined with entrepreneurial training and tourism development—have benefited 878 people in the area. A family can save $8-$10 per week by having vegetable production in their own garden. Typically, the average annual income in rural Ecuadorian communities is around $250, and 50% of that income goes towards food. With this project, families are saving vital money that can then be reallocated to cover other needs.

Big Dreams for Erika and Her Kids

The impact on locals that have participated in this project has been amazing to witness. One of the most meaningful stories is that of Erika Yaselga.

Erika is a 28-year-old single mother of 2 children, ages 10 and 8. She currently lives in the community of Cruztola and is very dedicated to agriculture. However, due to economic hardship, Erika could not cover all the basic needs that her children required.

Food is scarce in the area, and her small farm did not provide a varied diet for her children. However, with CHOICE’s help, Erika was given an opportunity that she never had before to include fruit trees, vegetables, medicinal plants, and animals in her agricultural production.

The food currently grown on Erika’s farm is used to feed her children, but her dream is to turn her land into a tourism farm that is visited by local and national tourists. This would generate enough economic income to support her family. Erika was also fortunate enough to participate in training workshops for entrepreneurs through this project. Erika continues to apply the knowledge she gained from the training workshops to her business and looks forward to constantly improving it.

Said Erika, "I am very grateful to the participating organizations. Thanks to their support and knowledge, they have encouraged me to learn and put into practice the knowledge [I’ve gained].” With a big smile, Erika continued, “My dream is for the farm to get bigger and bigger and for the project to continue successfully."