Vasquez-Sorto: An Entrepreneurial Couple
Mélida Sorto, right, learns about vaccinating chickens in a SVH workshop.
After trying city life, Mario Vasquez decided to return to Tulito where he had grown up. He asked his father for a plot of land and began to grow basic grains. Saving his earnings, he began to diversify his garden, planting avocado, pepper, banana, squash and lemon trees. At that time he also noticed Melída Sorto, a hard-working woman with three children. She also farmed her land and produced tamales and bread to sell in the community. They decided to get married.
Then Mario bought a motorcycle and a grill. Now he goes to neighboring communities to sell bread, tamales, and produce from their gardens and orchards. On Sundays, he sells ice cream at soccer matches. Their income sometimes reaches as much as $500 in a month. With these earnings they have expanded their home and paid medical expenses when needed.
Since 2018 they have hosted Sustainable Villages Honduras (SVH) workshops on drought-resistant seeds, crop diversification, poultry vaccination, and the production of natural pesticides and insect repellents. Roy took them to fairs in the city of Santa Barbara where they exchanged seeds with farmers from other parts of Honduras. Mélida also sold bread and tamales.
Mario participated in exchange tours to observe what other farmers are doing. He learned a lot from the visit to the milpa on the farm of Orbelindo Ramos.
Mario and Mélida are leaders in their communities. They motivate women, men and young people to become better farmers and to start small enterprises. They also provide an example a husband and wife working together, each valuing the work of the other.