Training for Nicaragua Coffee Smallholders

NICARAGUA

Grow Ahead, a non-profit organization supporting small-scale coffee farmers, has begun farmer-to-farmer training in the organization’s climate resiliency program. The program is financed by a $15,000 online fundraising campaign.

Grow Ahead partnered with Coop Coffees for the training in Somoto, Nicaragua, that included field visits to a successful reforestation project work in Limay and San Juan Rio Coco. “This was a great opportunity to see the positive impact of reforestation in action. The technology being used here is incredible,” said José Fernando Reyes of Cooperativa Norandino, an association of small-scale coffee producers in northern Peru. “We need to be thinking about how we can work together to create a collective platform and extend these services.”

The training focused on what has been learned during the 10-year reforestation work supported by the local Taking Root team and facilitated peer-to-peer learning about reforestation between coffee-producer cooperative representatives from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Peru, as well as from Coop Coffees roaster and importer staff and supporting organizations.

Research indicates that by 2050 climate change may reduce by half production lands currently suitable for growing arabica. Farmers typically rely on coffee as their sole source of family income, Grow Ahead said in a statement.

“In order to ensure a food secure future, it’s critical to increase the resilience of farmers whose livelihoods are threatened by climate uncertainties,” said Grow Ahead director Ryan Zinn. “Grow Ahead’s mission is to support small-scale farmers as they) address the challenge of climate change in their communities through crowdfunding for grassroots solutions. Farmer-to-farmer trainings are one of the most effective methods to do this, facilitating the exchange of practical experiences and best practices.”