Planting Seeds of Future Change -A case study of the NGO Semilla Nueva’s ability to implement sustainable agriculture and affect development in Guatemalan communities

Abstract: Development, where agriculture is a central component, is today often related to different aspects of sustainability. Sustainable development is argued to be most effective when implemented on a local level where non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are usually active agents. The implementation of sustainable practices, such as sustainable agriculture, could hence be argued to depend upon the efforts of NGOs. The purpose of this study is to investigate what aspects may influence the implementation of sustainable agriculture in rural communities and how that ability affects development in those places. The ability of a particular NGO called Semilla Nueva to implement sustainable agriculture was researched and compared in two communities, testing two possible influential factors; past experience of NGOs and views of sustainable agriculture. Empirical findings show difference in willingness of implementing sustainable agriculture between the researched communities. Three possible explanations were found to this issue: past experience of NGOs, lifestyle/climate and lack of information. No indication of views of sustainable agriculture was found as an explanation. The indication of less willingness to collaborate with a NGO was found to have possible effect the socio-economical development as NGOs may avoid future collaboration with that particular community.