Leonor

Loan description:

Leonor is 72 and married to Rodolfo, who is 73. They have three grown-up children who all live separately. Two of their children work in the city hall in the nearby town of Loja and their other child lives and works in the capital, Quito. Leonor and Rodolfo are farmers and have been all their lives.They currently farm two hectares of land on which they grow carrots, beans, plantain and maize. The carrots and beans are ready for harvest after three months and the maize 3-6 months depending on whether they sell it fresh or dry. They sell most of their produce to buyers in the local market in Loja. If the corn is particularly small they don't sell it and instead keep it for the family and to feed the animals. Leonor and Rodolfo have been with the microfinance organisation FACES for two years and in that time they have been able to expand and grow their business. When they first joined FACES they only grew maize but now they grow a number of different types of produce. Leonor and Rodolfo hire two regular workers to help them and when they are particularly busy, they hire three. They have requested a $1,000 loan this time so they can buy more seeds, fertliser and pesticide. Leonor and Rodolfo love what they do and they want to continue doing this for as long as possible. They will pay back the loan over 12 months (the photograph of the field shows Leonor's and Rodolfo's carrots).