USDA-CENTA in El Salvador

by Jose Vasquez

     I went to El Salvador in Central America from June 28 to July 14 to work on a project with the National Center of Farming and Forest Technologies (CENTA). The purpose of the project was to study agro-ecology techniques and innovative farming practices. Also, I was able to study the waste water management system in the cavalry center close to CENTA. In addition, I visited some biodiesel plants.

     This was a positive experience because I was able to visit a variety of agricultural fields in different areas of El Salvador. Meeting with the farmers and technicians to discuss their agricultural methods firsthand gave me a clear understanding of the general situation of El Salvador. One method that was effective and could be used in other areas was the use of liquid smoke as an alternative to pesticides. Some of the farms employed organic agricultural methods but that was not the general case in the country. The main reason why farmers are not motivated to use organic methods is that the market does not pay the correct prices for products farmed using natural methods. Most consumers in El Salvador shop for produce by looking for the cheapest prices.

     Another positive opportunity I experienced was measuring waste water for chemical and physical characteristics to see how the treatment system was working. The system at the cavalry center uses natural methods to filter the water such as using native aquatic plants to filter the water. The measurements were used to determine if the water was ready to be used in the agricultural fields and were able to determine that the water was ready for use.

     Lastly, I observed how the biodiesel plants worked. One of them transforms used kitchen oil into usable diesel fuel. The other plant is the most modern in Central America and it is able to transform oil from different plants into biodiesel. For example, they are trying to use castor seed oil to produce biodiesel. Castor seed plants are common throughout El Salvador. Also, oil from other plants is being explored for the future.

     All of the information that I gathered while studying in El Salvador will be organized into power point presentations and a report that will be shared with students and faculty at FIU as well as the general public.

This project has been made possible by a funding support under the USDA CSREES ISE Grant Program.
USDA-CSREES Grant Number 2006-51160-03409.