CRS serves farming communities and families most vulnerable to economic shocks, natural disasters, and conflicts. Farming disruptions include floods, droughts, fires, pests, diseases, deforestation and desertification, market and supply chain delays, and price fluctuations. A robust and resilient agrarian economy requires community planning, knowledgeable producer cooperatives, well-built infrastructure, and timely information. Risk reduction systems, recovery strategies, and teamwork equip communities to bend without breaking and quickly build back after catastrophes. 
CRS partners with local agricultural organizations to plan, build, and maintain knowledge and infrastructure in overlapping sectors. These include agronomy, natural resource management, water conservation and utilization, savings and credit services, agricultural extension, post-harvest storage and processing, supply chain business development, and marketing. Through 129 projects, CRS and partners support over 9 million farmers in 43 countries.

CRS farm programs start at the beginning—planting seeds. Our projects provide seeds for improved crop varieties, nurseries for tree seedlings, and fertilizers and tools to maximize production. Projects reduce erosion, improve soils, build water systems, and detect and treat insect and disease outbreaks. Radio broadcasts and cellphone SMS messages and apps provide weather forecasts. CRS projects also build the capacities of farmer-producer groups to buy agricultural inputs in bulk, share tools and information, and dry, package, store, and sell harvests to maximize profits.
The CRS resilience approach strengthens local and regional supply chain entrepreneurs and stabilizes crop harvests, food availability, and prices. Our projects link agriculture with education, microfinance, water and waste systems, transportation, health care, social services, and private sector opportunities. By reducing vulnerabilities and strengthening local economies, CRS reduces the underlying causes of poverty, hunger, and conflict. 

Explore the regions where CRS is transforming lives through your generosity. From Africa to Latin America, discover stories of hope and resilience across the globe.

With a team of Communications staff around the world, we can provide real-time updates during emergencies and on a wide variety of current issues and events facing the developing world and the international community.