usaid office of food for peace guatemala bellmon estimation

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beneficiaries, though beneficiaries interviewed by BEST in July/August 2011 could not cite
targeting criteria or regularity of arrival of goods. For example, one interviewee stated that she
appreciates the Bolsa Solidaria food which helps feed her five children, and does not mind
consuming broken rice, which she uses in soups. However, the beneficiary noted that her
rations arrive either bi-monthly or monthly, and without any set date. Regarding targeting, the
interviewee stated that rations are simply distributed to everyone on her block (located in Zone
7), all of which are of the same political party. She noted that the Bolsa delivery staff, which are
from the military, have been telling beneficiaries to expect milk and sugar in upcoming rations,
but she has yet to receive either of these goods.
The Bolsa Solidaria Rural reaches 44,650 families. The program distributes food 5-6 months
per year, and aims to coordinate with periods when families do not have temporary work in the
sugar and coffee industries. As of August 2011, the program has only been able to distribute
rations twice for the year due to budget constraints (Personal Correspondence with CCS,
August 2011).
Market impact. In BEST interviews during July/August 2011, rice industry members noted that
Bolsa Solidaria rations negatively impacted the rice processing market. 54
According to
Guatemalan Rice Association (ARROZGUA, "La Asociación Guatemalteca del Arroz") per
capita rice consumption in Guatemala is 16 lbs per year (Personal correspondence with
ARROZGUA, July 2011). In comparison, Bolsa Solidaria rations include 10 lbs of rice per
month. Resulting self-monetization and market leakage could be expected. For minimal market
impact is it necessary for ration sizes to appropriate to family size.
VISAN: general distributions. In addition to the Bolsa Solidaria, VISAN implements MAGA's
nutrition and food security policies and programs. Programs support vulnerable populations with
food aid distributions. In 2010, VISAN distributed maize, beans, rice, sugar, Bienestarina, maize
flour, and vegetable oil to 403,386 families in 22 departments. 55
Additionally, VISAN distributed
food in Baja Verapaz on behalf of the Government of Taiwan in 2010. The Tawainese aid
included 50 lbs white maize, 15 lbs black beans, 10 lbs rice and 1.8 lbs oil, and reached 15,000
families. Frequency of this distribution was not recorded.
In addition to distributed food aid, VISAN also promotes family gardens, urban agriculture,
organic farming, and seed and fertilizer distributions (VISAN, 2010).
3.3. Planned Initiatives
3.3.1. USAID
USAID/Guatemala is carrying out several initiatives including Feed the Future, Global Health
Initiative, President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), Global Climate Change
Initiative, and Food for Peace Title II.
FFP has funds available for Title II development programs in Guatemala in FY12.
USAID/Guatemala has made a commitment to focus its funding and efforts toward the five
highest-need departments (Huehuetenango, Quetzaltenango, El Quiché, San Marcos,
54
ARROZGUA noted that the distributions did not negatively impact the rice production market, however, because of the unique
pricing mechanism for domestically produced rice.
55
Figures on total tonnage of food and/or ration sizes were unavailable.
BEST Analysis – Guatemala Chapter 3 – Food Aid Overview 37