A. M. Courtesy
The World Bank (WB), Japan, and El Salvador are collaborating on a project to improve market access, food security, and nutritional diversity in the El Bálsamo mountain range, Department of La Libertad.
The project, “Connecting Agricultural Communities with Coastal Economies in El Bálsamo- Costa Viva” is financed with a $2.76 million grant from the Japan Social Development Fund and approved by the World Bank.
The project will connect producers of staple grains, fruits, vegetables, and coffee in the El Bálsamo mountain range to the expanding economies of the coast, including markets, hotels, and restaurants, which in turn will benefit from improvements in the inclusiveness, sustainability, and quality of the products provided by the farmers.
The project, scheduled to end in december 2027, will finance business plans for farmers who adopt climate and nutritionally smart practices to boost environmental sustainability and nutritional inputs, as well as increase productivity and household incomes. To achieve this, the creation of productive alliances between farmers and local markets will be encouraged with the support of Community Development Associations.
