La Microfinca | Camuy Puerto Rico – Increasing agricultural resilience with climate-smart practices
Detailed description of video and practices
Farmers in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands are dealing with challenging conditions due to a variable tropical climate complicated by climate change. La Microfina Farm in Camuy, Puerto Rico, led by Tadilka Rivera Méndez, offers a hopeful example of adapting to these conditions.
La Microfina Farm grows diverse crops but faced challenges from intense rains and prolonged droughts caused by climate change. To tackle this, Tadilka’s team sought support from the USDA’s NRCS-Caribbean Area and implemented several strategies. They installed rainwater collection systems, used mulching techniques to preserve soil moisture, and planted climate-resistant crops. They also employed conservation practices like contour planting and high tunnel rainwater collection.
These efforts successfully increased crop yields, improving the farm’s economic sustainability. This story showcases farmers’ resilience and innovation in the face of climate change, offering hope for sustainable agriculture in the region.
The video featuring their journey is part of the USDA’s Caribbean Climate Hub’s NIFA-funded Climate-Smart Caribbean program, aimed at providing agricultural communities with information on sustainable practices to reduce climate change risks in agriculture.
NRCS Practices Implemented at La Microfinca Farm
- “High tunnel”
- Contour farming
- Practice: 330 Contour FarmingPractice 585 Standar Stripcropping
- Conservation Practice Standard: Contour Farming (Code 330)
- CPS Contour Farming (Code 330) OverviewConservation Practice Standard Stripcropping (Code 585) Oveview (usda.gov)
- Contour Farming (Ac.) (330) CPPE Conservation Practice Standard Stripcropping (Code 585) (usda.gov)
- Water Harvesting Catchment
- Mulching
Video Transcript (English)
My name is Tadilka Rivera Méndez, owner of the agroecological project in La Microfinca. This project is located in Barrio Piedra Gorda in the municipality of Camuy. At the moment we have approximately two cuerdas of land being planted with a variety of products, mostly greens such as arugula, kale, dill, chives, broccoli and short-cycle roots such as radishes and carrots. We also have larger scale products such as bananas, plantains, bananas and yautías.
During the five years we have been in production, we have noticed how constant rains or prolonged dry spells have had significant changes in the production of our crops. To deal with this, we have implemented practices such as rainwater harvesting through cisterns and a cistern with a three thousand gallon capacity. In addition, we have worked on techniques such as mulching and the selection of resistant seeds.
On the farm, we apply various conservation practices, some implemented by us and others advised by technicians from the US Department of Agriculture, specifically the agency known as NRCS. These practices include contour planting and water harvesting to prevent erosion. Maintaining the economic sustainability of the farm requires these practices to obtain the necessary yields in our crops.
We have a number of natural attributes that we want to preserve for future generations and the well-being of the community.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. The views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government. USDA does not necessarily endorse the views expressed in this video.
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