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Beginning in 2005, the Borlaug Institute at Texas A&M, initiated an agricultural extension program for the horticulture and food processing sectors of Guatemala.
The four main objectives of this project:
1. expand food processing capabilities throughout Guatemala, (2)
2.
promote improved agricultural technology and methods
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3. provide farmer extension education opportunities and support farmer cooperatives, and
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promote the development of agriculture-related businesses and linkages with the private sector.
This project has been successful in establishing food processing training centers, laboratories for new food product development, composting units, greenhouses, irrigation systems and business incubators.
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More than two thousand agriculturalists have benefited from the courses given through this project. Courses included canning, fruit dehydration, pickling, post-harvest physiology of vegetables and flowers, food safety, effective packing methods for fresh produce, marketing and others.
The project has also provided training opportunities for agriculture students, technicians, and professionals in topics such as
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agroforestry, integrated pest management, soil analysis, geographic information systems, and others.
Instructors have included specialists from Texas A&M, faculty members from local universities, experts from Guatemalan industry, and Texas A&M current and former students.
Ten Texas A&M agricultural students have completed internship programs in Guatemala as part of this project.
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Each of the students offered extension courses in their area of study.
The project is currently focusing on export certification courses and market links for agricultural products.
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