In Central America microinsurance coverage is minimal, with rates well below the rest of Latin America.
Throughout the region, Guatemala leads they way in such services with 0.58%, followed by El Salvador (0.13%), Nicaragua (0.12%), Panama (0.06%) and Honduras (0.05%) . According to a study by the Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF), a member of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Salvadorans prefer micro-life insurance (112,000 people) and health insurance (78,000 people).
In the past two years six cooperatives producing farmed shrimp improved their production by 175%, and entered the European market.
From an article by the Costa Rican Trade Promotion Office (PROCOMER):
As a result of a project initiated by the Enterprise and Employment Programme, part of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), six cooperatives of shrimp farmers in Nicaragua, located in the Estero Real, Chinandega, improved their production by 175% and entered the European market in the past two years.
The new regulation aims to unify shrimp fishing practices in Central America, for the adequate use of Turtle Exclusion Devices.
From a press release of the Central American Integration System (SICA):
Today, at the headquarters of the Central American Integration System (SICA), Mrs. Xinia Chaves, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock of Costa Rica, representing her country in the exercise of the President Pro Tempore of SICA, deposited with the Secretary-General System, Juan Daniel Aleman, the "Regional Regulation OSP-06-13 on "Proper Use of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs)", which aims to establish a regional policy framework for the appropriate use of the aforementioned TEDs.
Rainforest Alliance and USAID have presented a new standard aimed at encouraging cattle farms to improve their environmental and social sustainability.
This standard, which forms part of the agreements established in DR-CAFTA, will help cattle farmers to implement best practices by voluntarily opting to obtain the the Rainforest Alliance Certified™ certification.
19 associations have received certificates enabling them to export to the USA by complying with international agricultural best practice standards.
The scheme promoted by Fundación Ágil and coordinated by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to date has certified 48 farming groups.
"Out of all harvests, certified farms export 80% to the US and 20% to Europe.
Central America and the Dominican Republic are forging ahead with the implementation of a "Central American Mortgage."
This mechanism will facilitate and expand credit access since it will be backed up by mortgage guarantees in any of the Central American countries or the Dominican Republic.
The first stage of the initiative is backed up by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).