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The Integrated Production
System Project
For those who love mountains, forests and fog,
the high country of Belen Gualcho, in Ocotepeque,
will surely be one of their favorite places in
Honduras.
It was here, during the 2007 Dry Season, where
discussions were held regarding how to improve
the quality and increase the quantity of locally
grown crops. Likewise, the subject of
competition was also addressed: perseverance in
production.
This is how the Integrated Production System
Project came to life, financed by the Millennium
Account- Honduras and implemented by Aldea
Global. These agencies work on the project as a
team, with several goals: standardizing the
seeds used in this region, conserving water
resources, building irrigation systems and
creating farmer’s markets. Furthermore, they
work together to create delivery and marketing
strategies for the goods that are produced.
The La Mohaga Dam,
Environmentally Sustainable
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Local residents, villagers,
beneficiaries and local authorities helped build the
reservoir. |
La Mohaga, in the Northern part of Belen, was
very interested in participating in this
project. In contrast to other villages with
springs, streams and riverheads, this community
barely had a small spring from which the locals
had been living off for more than 20 years.
As a result, a dam was proposed in order to
create a reservoir.
La Mohaga had all of the conditions necessary
for the construction of the dam. The locals were
willing to help and the land owners were willing
to allow their land to be used for this purpose.
The water ran through a long, deep ravine,
surrounded by tall trees with wide trunks. The
dam, to be built in harmony with the natural
surroundings, would become an ideal site for
attracting local fauna, particularly birds, and
providing them with a place for nesting.
Last April, the villagers began work on the
project. Some worked at digging, others removed
dirt and rocks, a tractor collected unearthed
material, while a truck transported these
materials to where they could be used as natural
retaining walls. Other people worked on
environmental mitigation by planting trees,
creating living barriers and collecting rocks.
The La Mohaga dam is 22 meters long and has a 4
meter wide platform, with 6 meters of smelting
in the front and rear. Both the front and rear
have a 2 meter wide, 1 meter tall relief valve.
There are also retaining walls covered with
rocks, all of which are smelted with concrete
and reinforced with rods.
Today, the dam is not only a source of
productivity but it also serves as a meeting
place for youth who get together to shoot the
breeze. Likewise, community elders rest and
share stories along the banks of the reservoir,
while children look out over the aquatic, hoping
to get a glimpse of a fish or a bird that breaks
the calm of this aquatic mirror. |
