Farming And Agriculture In Guatemala: Green Beans Packing Plant In The Highlands Of Chimaltenango Editorial Photo

Plant workers sort, clean, pack and ship green beans bags in a vegetable packing plant in the eastern highlands of Chimaltenango, Guatemala. Agriculture is the world's largest employer, employing about half of the world's population, and small farms produce about one-third of the world's food. Statistics show that 43% of farmers are women, and in developing countries, they are responsible for 60% to 80% of food production. In Guatemala, agriculture is a major contributor to the country's GDP and employment as data shows that in 2022, agriculture contributed to 9.3% to the country's GDP. Agriculture is the main source of employment in this Central American country. The main agricultural products include sugarcane, corn, bananas, coffee, and vegetables, while other agricultural exports include African palm, fruits, and rubber. Agriculture is an important part of Guatemala's cultural identity reflected in history, festivals, gastronomy and popular art. The Mayans developed advanced farming techniques and cultivated crops such as corn, cocoa, and chili peppers.