Kusapín Se Adapta Project Promotes Organic Fertilizer Production and Sustainable Gardens in the Ngäbe-Buglé Comarca, Panama

• The project is benefiting 15 educational centers and 50 family gardens in the Kusapín district through training processes in composting and sustainable agriculture.

The Kusapín Se Adapta Project, implemented by CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center) in Panama, with funding from the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) and in coordination with the Ministry of Environment, strengthened the capacities of families and educational centers in the Kusapín district for the production of organic fertilizers and the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices.

As part of this initiative, training activities and a practical learning session were conducted using the “Learning by Doing” methodology, aimed at teaching participants how to transform organic waste into compost to improve soil fertility and strengthen food production.

The activities benefited 15 educational centers across the district, where the establishment and strengthening of school gardens are being promoted. These include the educational centers of Río Chiriquí, Cleay, Cañaveral, Río Viento, Río Caña Abajo, Punta Níspero, Guacamayo, Kusapín, La Ensenada, Bahía Azul, Toroki, Playa Verde, Bukori, Manuel Aparicio, and Punta Cuaco.

In addition, the project provided technical support to 50 family gardens located in the corregimientos of Río Chiriquí, Cañaveral, Tobobe, Kusapín, and Bahía Azul, helping to strengthen food production and food security among participating communities.

“We are taking away knowledge that we will apply in our school garden, while valuing our natural resources and improving soil quality,” said Kevin Espinoza, a teacher at Punta Níspero Educational Center.

For Edna Beker, a resident of Bahía Azul, the experience has provided an opportunity to adopt new practices that benefit families within the community.

“Like many women in Kusapín, we are learning something new. We have discovered that the organic waste from our kitchens can be transformed into fertilizer. I am very happy because I know this knowledge will benefit our families and communities,” she commented.

The process also received technical support from the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA) in the Ngäbe-Buglé Comarca. Darío Palacios, representative of the institution, highlighted the importance of the actions promoted by the project.

“From MIDA, we have closely accompanied this process and witnessed how it promotes environmental conservation through training in family and school gardens. These actions strengthen productive activities and represent a valuable coordination of efforts between institutions and communities,” he stated.

Las acciones desarrolladas forman parte de la estrategia del proyecto Kusapín Se Adapta para fortalecer la climate resilience, promover prácticas productivas sostenibles y mejorar la seguridad alimentaria en las comunidades del distrito de Kusapín. A través del aprovechamiento de recursos locales y el fortalecimiento de capacidades, el proyecto contribuye a que familias y centros educativos incorporen soluciones prácticas para enfrentar los desafíos ambientales y productivos de la región.