The private University of Valle, in Guatemala, is teaching one hundred peasant farmers, most of whom are illiterate, techniques in organic farming and integrated pest management. The “University for Everyone” workshop took place in late September in the western department of Sololá as a “practical project to help farm workers improve productivity in the short term,” the program's assistant director María Marta Ramos told Tierramérica.

“The unit on pest management teaches how to counteract insects with other insects or plants. The idea is to develop organic farming in order to improve productivity without the use of pesticides and other environmental contaminants,” Ramos said.

The farmers also received training in growing orchids and bromelias as options for alternative crops.