Building Rural Outreach from the Ground Up to serve the Zero Hunger Pact

The system aims to provide small and medium farmers with access to information, skills, and technology. Guatemala has lacked public outreach services for over a decade, but the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (MAGA) has developed a proposal for a rural outreach system with the support of the USAID Policy Regulatory Support for Economic Growth (PRS) Project. The new system, known as the National System for Rural Outreach (SNER), includes innovative elements such as the establishment of municipal outreach agencies and the inclusion of household outreach workers to improve family nutrition practices. MAGA allocated a budget of Q300 million (over $35 million) to launch the new rural outreach system in 2013. This effort provides the knowledge, technology, and support base that farmers will be able to build upon for years to come. Access to technology, information, and skills is vital to the development of small and medium farmers, and rural outreach services are often the means to offer these public goods. Guatemala is currently facing the challenge of providing food and nutritional security to 70 percent of its rural population, while transforming agriculture for small and medium farmers into a profitable activity that will be able to compete while conserving the environment. Effective rural outreach services are essential to tackle these challenges. The SNER system is designed to address the country's agricultural development needs, including food and nutritional security and productive chains. Farmers will undergo training in "agricultural precision" practices, which will enable them to improve their yields and productivity. The system also aims to promote the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices, which will help to conserve the environment and promote eco-friendly agriculture. The implementation of the SNER system is a significant step towards addressing Guatemala's rural development challenges. The system has the potential to improve the livelihoods of small and medium farmers, increase food security, and promote sustainable agriculture practices. With the support of the PRS Project, MAGA has made significant progress in developing a comprehensive rural outreach system that will benefit the country's rural population.