Impact Spotlight
20 solar water-pumping systems for agroecological production in communities across Guatemala's Dry Corridor
Strengthening 50 agroecological plots with reliable water access to grow native and heirloom vegetables
Conserving agricultural biodiversity through the rematriation of the Maravilla tomato and the production of heirloom seeds
About
In Rabinal, Baja Verapaz, Maya Achí farming communities live within Guatemala’s Dry Corridor, where increasingly variable rainfall and recurring drought make reliable water access a persistent challenge for small-scale agriculture. Recent agricultural programs in Rabinal and neighboring Maya Achí communities have specifically prioritized water storage, agroecology, and native crops as tools for strengthening food security and climate resilience.
Asociación Campesina Río Negro Trece de Marzo Maya Achí is a community organization formed by survivors of Río Negro and their descendants, many of whom were forcibly displaced to Pacux during Guatemala’s internal armed conflict and the construction of the Chixoy hydroelectric dam. Today, the association works with farming families, women, and youth to strengthen food sovereignty, agroecological production, ancestral knowledge, and climate resilience.
Central to that work is the conservation and return of traditional seeds. In recent years, the association has helped bring the Maravilla tomato, a historic variety once grown in Rabinal, back into local cultivation after seeds preserved outside Guatemala were returned to the region. Farmers are now multiplying the variety and sharing seedlings and seeds with other families—connecting agricultural biodiversity with cultural memory and community resilience. By combining ancestral agricultural knowledge with agroecology and renewable energy, the association is helping families grow healthy food, conserve locally adapted crops, and generate additional income while responding to a changing climate.
“We believe that our communities’ future is cultivated by recovering our seeds, caring for our land, and responsibly harnessing the sun’s energy. As the Maya Achí people, we bring together our ancestral knowledge with sustainable solutions to strengthen food security, protect our biodiversity, and build a more resilient future for generations to come.”
HF Partnership
Through this partnership with the Honnold Foundation, the Asociación Campesina Río Negro Trece de Marzo Maya Achí will install 20 solar water-pumping systems to strengthen agroecological production in the Maya Achí communities of Pacux, Río Negro, San Gabriel, Chipacapox, and Panacal, located in Guatemala's Dry Corridor, where recurring droughts and climate variability limit access to water. With solar energy, families will be able to irrigate 50 agroecological plots, growing native and heirloom vegetables and strengthening the conservation of ancestral seeds year-round. The project will also build capacity through training in agroecological production and basic maintenance of the pumping systems, directly benefiting 50 families, approximately 250 people, and helping to improve their food security, increase agricultural production, and generate surplus for sale in local markets.
Together, the project connects solar energy, water access, and seed conservation to strengthen Maya Achí food sovereignty and build greater resilience to a changing climate.
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