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About Nicaragua

Nicaragua is a country rich in resources and support, yet is the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and one of the poorest countries in the world.

Nicaragua is located in Central America, bordered by Honduras on the north and Costa Rica to the south.

About half of the population lives in poverty and 17 percent live in extreme poverty. Unemployment is around 22 percent, and Nicaraguans are emigrating in increasing numbers to neighboring countries to search for work.

Yet Nicaragua also has great opportunity. Seventy percent of Nicaragua 's poor are found in the rural areas and are heavily dependent on agricultural activities for food and employment. making it a logical place to affect change. Nicaragua grows coffee, bananas, plantains, squash and other foods for export to the global market.

The recently signed Central American Free Trade with the United States (CAFTA) agreement has rapidly globalized the Nicaraguan economy, bringing both opportunities and challenges for the Nicaraguan agricultural industry, particularly for small- and medium-scale producers.