Food insecurity in Nicaragua: farming on the edge of a volcano baking

In May this year, the Telica volcano in north-west Nicaragua erupted. Most families on Telica rely on subsistence farming for food. Many farmers’ bean crops were devastated by ash and heavy rain acidified the sulphur dioxide produced by the eruption. Families had to find ways to cope with less food that year. People were forced to sell their assets, leave their homes to find work elsewhere and live on meagre diets. Many earn less than $1.25 per day, living below the absolute poverty line as set by the World Bank. These eruptions highlight the dangers that come with living on the slopes of a volcano. But even at times of no eruptions, people in the area are highly vulnerable to food insecurity.

Photograph: Nuevas Esperanzas

Within the model farms, vegetable gardens are being managed using agro-ecology methods. Where possible, natural processes, are being used – instead of chemical fertilisers, nitrogen-fixing plants are being planted among rows of crops, acting as a form of natural fertiliser. These methods help prevent the buildup of financial debt and are more beneficial to the environment. Significant effort goes into promoting soil health, which increases water retention and promotes crop growth. The aim is to grow more food using the limited land and water resources that are available. Alongside the farms, beehives provide an additional source of income and encourage conservation of the surrounding forest.

Photograph: Rosie Iron

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