Food for thought in Honduras

Constantino Martinez and family [Marcella Haddad]

Constantino Martinez and his family no longer have to go without the food they need, thanks to credit from community shops set up by CAFOD partner COMAL

Throughout Honduras COMAL has networks of community producer organisations and community shops based on the basic food basket – such as beans, maize, sugar, rice, soap, butter, salt.

Most of these goods will be produced locally, some may be bought from other regions. COMAL buys certain products in bulk and then distributes from six wholesale outlets throughout the country.

Local farmer Constantino Martinez can pay the shop back in produce, in local currency, or even in a special currency designed by COMAL for people using its shops called “UDIS” - which stands for “unit of solidarity exchange”.

With a low-interest loan from COMAL Constantino has also been able to buy fertiliser to help him grow his crops.

Much better than banks

“We buy food in the COMAL shop apart from what we grow,” he says. “These shops are better because if we don’t have money they give us credit so we can eat.

"Then we pay them back when we have the money or produce.

“Before I used to clear land where the cattle are kept for 50 lempiras a day. It wasn’t enough to maintain the family. Now we still have needs but we cover them in another way.

“We get the money from selling our maize, beans and coffee to the COMAL network. They sell our produce in their shops.

“COMAL gives us loans and we pay them back in grain.

“We pay 20 per cent interest on a COMAL loan, if it’s in UDIS it’s just 15 per cent. This is much better than the banks, which charge 30 or 40 per cent interest.”

Constantino is also involved in running the community shop. He has received training in administration and accounting through COMAL as well as attending workshops in community leadership.

take action

Advent Appeal 2008 Send YOUR Advent message of support to kids at a special school run by a CAFOD partner - you really will make a difference to many children's lives this Christmas

Shine a light in the darkness Please sign our petition calling on the world's largest mining company to listen to communities in the Philippines worried about the effect mining will have on their land - plus send a personal message of solidarity to the people of Macambol

Buy a World Gift Browse our new range of alternative gifts that act as two presents in one – something for you to give to friends or a relative, while the real gift changes the life of someone living in poverty