Herdsman with cattle. - - Rural Development in Southern Lempira: GCP/HON/018/NET. This project is funded by the Netherlands and executed by the UN/Food and Agriculture Organization. The principal aim of this area-based participatory rural development project is to improve the sustainable agricultural development practices and the socio-economic conditions of poor rural households in the part of the Department of Lempira. The direct beneficiaries of this project are 1 200 carefully selected "model" rural households located in 79 communities within the upper reaches of the Lempa River catchment area which will serve as replicators of the new approaches learned. Implemented in cooperation with the Ministries of Agriculture, Planning and Education the main components of the project include: introduction of environmentally-friendly and profitable farming practices, improvement of household nutrition and health, introduction of more participatory approaches to municipal planning and the strengthening of self-help organization capacities.