En Nicaragua, las hortalizas de cadenas nacionales e internacionales, así como de pequeñas y medianas empresas de alimentos, son cultivadas por cooperativas de agricultores que operan a orillas del lago Apanás. Los agricultores producen alrededor de 213.000 toneladas (más del 90%) de la demanda nacional de hortalizas, pero la sedimentación, la deforestación incontrolada y las prácticas agrícolas nocivas amenazan la longevidad del lago. MASLAGO es una organización multiactor con partes interesadas del Lago Apanás, iniciada por Rikolto para promover la sostenibilidad y la resiliencia.
La sedimentación, causada por la deforestación incontrolada, y las prácticas agrícolas perjudiciales amenazan la supervivencia del lago Apanás en la próxima década. Además, se prevé que la escasez de agua provoque desempleo y comprometa la disponibilidad de verduras. Esto, a su vez, se traducirá en una dieta menos sostenible y diversa para los consumidores urbanos y rurales. Además, los productores de hortalizas nicaragüenses no reciben incentivos del sector público y, en general, no están organizados o lo están de forma deficiente.
La vegetación boscosa del lago se ha reducido en un 26%, mostrando una pérdida anual equivalente al 1,24%, lo que representa 190,22 hectáreas por año. Teniendo en cuenta el contexto político de Nicaragua, uno de los principales retos es institucionalizar las prácticas promovidas por la plataforma e incluirlas en las políticas públicas nacionales o locales. Sin embargo, el grupo se considera un espacio neutral en el territorio, razón por la cual reúne a tantos actores, incluidas las universidades públicas.
En Managua, los restaurantes, las cadenas de comida rápida y los consumidores particulares necesitan verduras todos los días. Sin embargo, esa dieta podría cambiar drásticamente debido a la escasez de agua. Las judías y el maíz, por ejemplo, requieren mucha menos agua que la lechuga y la col. Si todos los agricultores de Jinotega cambiaran sus cultivos, esto tendría un impacto significativo en el consumo de verduras como la lechuga y la col en Managua.
Rikolto has used the Integrated Landscape Management approach to facilitate the initiative. The approach was designed by EcoAgriculture Partners. It is a tool that allows various sectors, including agriculture, forestry, energy, fisheries, livestock, tourism to cooperate in coming up with innovative solutions to alleviate the growing pressure on natural resources.
Cycle route for integrated landscape management that Rikolto has facilitated with the MASLAGO group. (Global Forum about landscape, Varsovia, 2013)
The group has developed a common understanding of the landscape and defined two strategic lines of work, namely sedimentation and pollution. Each member of the platform committed to work on one of these 2 lines according to their own vision and mission. To this date, the platform has focused on development:
“Every year we organise a campaign to recycle empty agrochemical containers, with MASLAGO we expand the reach thanks to the participation of organisations such as La Cuculmeca, the indigenous community, the Tuktan Sirpi Children's Association and other private companies. Now we collect not only the containers, but also paper, cardboard and other environmentally polluting materials”
Flor de Maria RivasExecutive Director, ANIFODA
Execution period: 2017 -2021
Direct beneficiaries: 25,000 families
In 2017, the MASLAGO group organised the first forum for the sustainability of Lake Apanás. At this time, all private and public organizations were invited to learn about the lake's problems and exchange information from different perspectives. Vegetable cooperatives, NGDOs, universities and research centres participated.
Working with a landscape management approach allowed us to bring together stakeholders in an initial dialogue that led to the creation of MASLAGO. The 20 participating institutions engaged in a systematic process of exchange and common understanding of landscape conditions, including their challenges and opportunities. This allowed for collaboration in planning and the development of a vision and an action plan.
Rikolto supports the transition to sustainable, inclusive and healthy local food systems in cities in seven countries around the world, namely Indonesia, Vietnam, Tanzania, Belgium, Honduras, Burkina Faso and Ecuador
The group currently consists of 20 institutions, including vegetable cooperatives and the indigenous community that benefits from the preservation of their environment and livelihood. Private companies that benefit from continued production around the lake, non-profit organisations, and research institutions have also joined the platform.
Meet the voices behind MASLAGO in the following mini-doc (video in Spanish with English subtitles)
The group is made up of the following organisations, associations and companies: