By the Associated Press
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador — Mexico is bringing to El Salvador a tree-planting program that aims to support rural residents and ease economic pressures driving thousands of people to leave for the United States.
Mexican Chancellor Marcelo Ebrard, left, and the El Salvador President Nayib Bukele plant trees during the launch of the "Sowing Life" program, in San Luis Talpa, El Salvador, Friday, July 19, 2019. (AP Photo / MANILA BULLETIN)
The program is known as "Sowing Life" offers farmers $250 a month to plant fruit or timber trees, and whatever they harvest belongs to them.
Mexico donated $31 million to fund the plan in El Salvador, and authorities say it should create 20,000 jobs.
A similar initiative is in place for southern Mexico, and the country has said it intends to extend it to Honduras.
"Sowing Life" comes amid a wave of people fleeing Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador to escape poverty and violence.
Mexican Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard launched the program Friday alongside El Salvador's new president, Nayib Bukele.
Mexican Chancellor Marcelo Ebrard, left, and the El Salvador President Nayib Bukele plant trees during the launch of the "Sowing Life" program, in San Luis Talpa, El Salvador, Friday, July 19, 2019. (AP Photo / MANILA BULLETIN)
The program is known as "Sowing Life" offers farmers $250 a month to plant fruit or timber trees, and whatever they harvest belongs to them.
Mexico donated $31 million to fund the plan in El Salvador, and authorities say it should create 20,000 jobs.
A similar initiative is in place for southern Mexico, and the country has said it intends to extend it to Honduras.
"Sowing Life" comes amid a wave of people fleeing Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador to escape poverty and violence.
Mexican Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard launched the program Friday alongside El Salvador's new president, Nayib Bukele.