Why Proper Basic Grain Storage Matters
In Guatemala’s highlands, most rural families rely on subsistence farming, with corn and beans as their main crops to feed the household. Corn is an annual crop here—harvested just once a year—so that single harvest must sustain the family for 12 months as their primary carbohydrate source.
Food Security
Roughly 30% of corn and bean harvests are lost annually due to poor storage. This undermines rural families’ food security and jeopardizes children’s nutritional health at home.
Hermetic storage protects against insects, rodents, and pets, keeping grains and seeds intact to deliver carbs, proteins, vitamins, and minerals.
Francisca’s Story
Francisca lives in Pajomel, Santa Cruz La Laguna. She and her family grow corn and beans to eat year-round. Traditionally, they stored harvests in burlap sacks stacked on wooden pallets—but one time, rodents raided her stock. Much of the corn was ruined and fed to the chickens since it was no longer edible.
Since 2021, Francisca and her daughter have joined Vivamos Mejor’s Nutritional Health and Agroecology project. They’ve taken part in trainings on nutritious recipes, plot strengthening, and basic grain storage. As support for participants, they received a silo to store their harvest properly and cut losses.
“Some home upgrades require investment, but thanks to Vivamos Mejor, we got a silo—not just handed over, but with training on how to use it effectively. Now, if we harvest a quintal of corn, we use every bit. We’ve even learned to store beans in buckets to keep insects away.”
Learn More About Vivamos Mejor’s Nutritional Health and Agroecology Project
We work with over 250 highland families to prevent chronic child malnutrition through a comprehensive program that builds skills.