Zacarías has come a long way in four years. It was at that time that he was elected mayor, and he wanted to improve the lives of the people in his community. Little did he know, disease had taken over the lucrative cardamom crops that area farmers depended on. Unable to profitably grow the spice, the community suffered. He saw Heifer as a way out of this difficult situation not only for himself, but also for the community. Zacarías helped families get started in both the fish and bee industry, while he initially focused on fish.
Look at Zacarías’ life today as a successful farmer and father — a transformation that is due to your support!
Zacarías and his daughter Keny prepare to feed their fish. As for the fish food, Heifer taught Zacarías that he can supplement the feed he buys with a locally grown plant, chaya, allowing him to spend his income on other things. By growing chaya, Zacarías was able to save enough money to buy more fish and an acre of land to grow corn and cacao.
Zacarías’ 215-square-foot pond holds approximately 200 tilapia. Heifer taught people how to build ponds that would be conducive to the reproduction, including techniques such as lining the bottom and running raised pipes to supply fresh water. "They taught simple techniques, but we didn't know them before," Zacarías said.
While Zacarías sells most of the fish, having such an easily available source of protein is a great benefit to the children. “Now whenever the kids are hungry, they go to the pond and put a fish on a stick and fry it,” he said. His youngest, Keny, likes to fry the fish or put them in soup. His family has never been healthier.
“Now whenever the kids are hungry, they go to the pond and put a fish on a stick and fry it.” ZacarÍas Xol Cuc
In the past, Zacarías used to occasionally fish in the lake. He would also collect snails and vegetables for his family, but in general their diet was simple and not very diverse. Now, in addition to the fish, the family can afford to buy meat, rice, beans and eggs. His wife Adela prepares their nutritious meals in the kitchen.
Zacarías' daughters Keny and Eva enjoy coconuts that their father opened for them. He is a dedicated father and community leader, taking care of not only his family, but also sharing his time and knowledge to help other families.
Zacarías has big plans for the future. He hopes to build a second, larger fish pond so he can farm 2,000 tilapia instead of 200, and build a concrete house that can withstand the elements. He knows none of the improvements would be possible without you and Heifer.
On behalf of the thousands of families all over the world whose lives are better because of your monthly support, thank you.
