Adding to basket
Segundina is a 52 year old woman. She divorced her husband with whom she had 4 children. She only lives with one of them, Jose, 25, in her own home located in the central jungle of Peru.
For 17 years she has been growing citrus fruit, papayas and plantains. She gives them the care they need for a good harvest. This is why, she tells us, she likes to walk over her land, because all of the farming activity makes her feel alive.
“Without my harvests I wouldn't have been able to have anything. What would I have eaten, how would I have educated my children, getting together enough money until I bought my little house?" she states.
Her income is assured every two weeks, since she harvests plantains and thus covers the basic household expenses. The oranges, tangerines and papayas are for savings and to pay for any contingency. She also raises guinea pigs to sell and for personal consumption, as can be seen in the photo. Segundina's dream is to have her own money (capital) to plant new things in her fields. This is why she is happy to have the support of her communal bank.
This is the third loan that she has with MFP and she is convinced she can make the loan payments. She already knows the work methodology and she likes attending the group meetings because the other members are very fun and united. The money she is asking for now is for the operators who will clear the plantain fields. She will also buy two sacks of organic fertilizer, fertilizer, insecticides and fungicides that she will spread over her plantings to assure their production.
Translated from Spanish by Kiva volunteer Ellen Donohue. View original language description.
