The Cooperativa de Producción Agroecológica de Morazán de R.L. (ACOPROAM DE R.L.) won the construction of two greenhouses with funds from IFAD through the government of El Salvador, on the condition that they would grow hydroponic crops.
The problem was that the cooperative wanted to build the greenhouses with agroecological crops, but this was not allowed, because the project was already designed that way.
The solution was to gradually shift to agroecological techniques after the hydroponic project ended. This lowered production costs and provided healthy food. By transforming the soil in an agroecological way there is no more dependency on mineral salts, external substrates, buckets and other expensive material.
The hydroponic project was accepted with the condition that once the project was finished it would be converted to agroecological crops. But first a hydroponic cultivation of chilli and tomato was managed in buckets with pumice as substrate. The production obtained was enough to cover the expenses and the profit was very little because the costs in mineral salts, water and energy were high.
Transforming to agroecology, first the substrate was changed from buckets and then to direct soil, the change observed was significant in terms of using less irrigation and minerals. Currently these greenhouses are serving as an example for many cooperatives that want to take this step, but for fear of failure do not do so.
We are backed by more than 30 years of work in our communities in the department of Morazán, promoting the human capacities of women and men in sectors such as agriculture, entrepreneurship, the defence of human rights, soil conservation works, among others.