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Assessment:
Honduras and other
countries affected by Mitch are attempting to rehabilitate the economy, government,
and infrastructure following the devastation. Many lost homes, family members,
schools, and hospitals, as well as agriculture. For this reason, the entire
country is in a state of reconstruction. Following Mitch, many organizations
including numerous churches in the United States donated money to help survivors
of the disaster. However, due to lack of organization, this did not alleviate
the problem as people hoped. The livestock producers are some of the last
ones aided by such funding. Today, they still have not received any help to
rebuild their businesses. Many animals are still suffering from lack of food,
medicine, and water. Some of the solutions that I outline in my project can
help amend this situation.
Providing funding is the issue most significant for improving animal health.
The government promises to provide low-interest loans and international funding
to producers. Producers, however, need a more rapid solution. In Costa Rica,
producers are allowed to tax milk and dairy products. This money goes into
a fund that is used to benefit producers. I propose that Honduras could install
a similar system of 
taxation
and create a means to rebuild infrastructure or to construct regional dairy
centers. Of utmost importance is revising the infrastructure of livestock
producers in Honduras. Veterinarians may aid in this endeavor by providing
technical training and education. Topics such as tropical agriculture, milk
processing, artificial insemination, and reproductive endocrinology would
benefit the livestock community. As mentioned above, each department has an
associated agriculture and livestock production organization; however, membership
remains low (2,048 producers). These organizations could recruit more members
and by instilling yearly dues, they could also provide a low-interest credit
option or use funding for local producers. Honduran producers do not wish
to relinquish control of their operations; with this option, they would maintain
sovereignty and improve their condition. The government, however, should remedy
the transportation problem. The rebuilding of roads, bridges, and levees is
a public issue. Developing river containment systems would benefit producers
by significantly averting future crises. The government plans to establish
a disaster relief protocol that is imperative to creating a stable infrastructure.
One example of sustainable reconstruction was created by AGAA, the Association
of Agriculture and Livestock Producers of Atlantida, and Zamorano University.
With funding provided by USAID, they have devised a rehabilitation program
to take place over the next 30 months.
This program will provide for training in management, administration, tropical
agriculture including types of pasture and sustainable cultivation, milk production,
and artificial insemination breeding programs. The program will include 560
members of AGAA and Zamorano technical staff. AGAA members investigated the
losses of their area and presented these facts to Dr. Isidro Matamoros and
USAID. They are now able to begin their reconstruction rapidly. I hope to
be a part of this future project. I worked with staff of AGAA and also with
Dr. Matamoros. They have requested my aid in the next summer to help with
technical training programs in reproduction and veterinary medicine.