Bridging Technology and Agroecology: Angélica Ixcamparic’s Journey with LiteFarm

Farmer: Angélica Elisabeth Ixcamparic Puac

• Age: 49 years

• Residence: Panyebar Village, San Juan La Laguna, Sololá

• Main Crops: Corn, vegetables, flowers, and medicinal plants

  
  

Agroecological Field Schools: A Hands-On Learning Approach

Since early 2024, Asociación Vivamos Mejor Guatemala (AVMG) has established and equipped 16 Agroecological Field Schools (ECAS). These schools serve as a platform for disseminating agroecology through participatory methodologies, emphasizing hands-on learning. Located across various communities in the department of Sololá, these ECAS are led by local agroecological farmers. One of these leaders is Angélica Ixcamparic.

Born and raised in Panyebar Village, San Juan La Laguna, Angélica has always been an active member of her community. She has participated in numerous local projects as both a promoter and volunteer, earning recognition as a leader and advocate for collective development.

Coming from a farming family, Angélica continues the legacy of food production and ecological practices passed down by her parents. She acknowledges the challenges posed by climate change and highlights the importance of planning agricultural production at the household level:

“Producing healthy food in an environmentally friendly way is a challenge because the climate is changing so much. That’s why it’s important to plan production carefully at the family level.”

Angélica at her farm. 

Source: Vivamos Mejor

Integrating LiteFarm into Agroecological Planning

Before using LiteFarm, Angélica had no structured way of organizing her farm. She planted crops in different areas without a clear plan and struggled to track her planting and harvesting activities.To improve planning and decision-making, Angélica has started working with AVMG’s agroecological technicians and promoters using the LiteFarm digital tool. She has demonstrated strong digital skills, particularly in navigating LiteFarm’s mobile interface, using LiteFarm to map her land and structure her agricultural activities.

Regarding her experience with the tool, she shares:

“LiteFarm has interesting features—some are even fun, like creating a map of my land and recording my harvests throughout the year.”

“I started by mapping my parcel. Then, I registered my crops to keep track of what I have. Before, my crops were scattered—some here, some there—but now, thanks to this training, I have started organizing everything.”

When asked whether she believes other farmers could adopt LiteFarm, she responded:

“It has a lot of potential, but I think its adoption depends on whether families generate income from agriculture and on the amount of land they have for planting.”

Angélica sharing some of her techniques during a visit to her farm. 

Source: Vivamos Mejor

For Angélica, one of the biggest advantages of LiteFarm is its ability to help her visualize and plan her work. She now assigns specific areas to her crops, schedules activities such as pruning and fertilization, and ensures that her farm operations are well-coordinated.

“With a plan, I can see everything: when to prune, when to fertilize, and what plants I have in my plot. Before, I didn’t know when to do these things. Now, I follow a clear plan.”

Angélica using LiteFarm during a training with Vivamos Mejor. 

Source: Vivamos Mejor

The Role of Training and Support

Angélica credits the training she received from AVMG with making this transformation possible. Before this training, she had no experience with planning agricultural activities. Now, she feels more confident and capable of managing her farm efficiently.

“I am very grateful to the workers from Vivamos Mejor. They started training me on how to use LiteFarm. Before this, I had no idea how to plan, when to prune, or when to fertilize my crops.”

Through structured support and hands-on learning, Angélica has been able to use digital tools to strengthen her farming practices.

Angélica and her husband Cornelio Jorge Tzic at their farm. 

Source: Vivamos Mejor

Organized Agroecology with Digital Support

Agriculture is a key economic activity in Sololá, with farmers growing staple grains (corn and beans), vegetables, and coffee. However, many farmers lack technical assistance to facilitate a proper transition to agroecology.

Angélica underscores the need for structure and organization in agroecological farming:

“We need to understand that being organized is crucial for working with agroecology, and LiteFarm is the tool that helps us do that.”

Thanks to the guidance of Vivamos Mejor and the introduction of LiteFarm, Angélica now feels empowered to manage her farm with greater efficiency. Her journey highlights the impact of digital tools in strengthening small-scale agriculture, allowing farmers to adapt to changing conditions and make informed decisions for a more sustainable future.

“Many thanks to the team at Vivamos Mejor for training me and teaching me how to create plans. Now I can see what I have and organize myself better.”

By leveraging digital tools like LiteFarm, farmers like Angélica can streamline their agroecological practices, ensuring sustainable and well-planned food production for their communities.