Guatemala Rankings and Fun Facts

World Rankings

According to The Economist World In Figures 2007, Guatemala has the 2nd highest concentration of ozone in the world. Their Air Quality Score is the 2oth lowest in the world. They are the 39th most economically dependant on Agriculture. They have the 9th highest % of men in the work force. And, they have the 59th highest number of marriages a year.

Fun Facts

Guatemala has two Nobel Laureates. Rigoberta Menchu won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1992 "in recognition of her work for social justice and ethno-cultural reconciliation based on respect for the rights of indigenous peoples," making her one of three Latin Americans to ever win the award. Miguel Angel Asturias won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1967 "for his vivid literary achievement, deep-rooted in the national traits and traditions of Indian peoples of Latin America," making him one of five Latin Americans to ever win the award.

Guatemala has 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites:
1) Antigua Guatemala
2) Archeoligical Park and Ruins of Quirigua
3) Tikal National Park (pictured at the top of the blog)

Assignment

I received a phone call 3 months early inviting me to Guatemala. I accepted the position of Marketing Facilitator for the Sustainable Agricultural Development Project. What does that mean? The overall purpose of the project is to increase the quality of life of Guatemalan rural communities by promoting sustainable farming practices for food security and income generation.

I have two objectives:

1) Provide techincal training and technical assistance with efficient practices and functions in agricultural marketing to 940 farmers in 40 communities.

2) Provide technical assistance in adding value to farm products in harmony with the environment to 280 farmers in 40 communites.

The main focus of the Marketing component is to show small farmers how to earn mopre money from their farms. This involves market research, analyzing production costs and profits, and developing a marketing and production plan.