The Coffee Trust

Programs: Overviewthe lions share of our work has been focused on 1) helping the coffee association, asociacin chajulense. Recover from the devastating roya [rust] fungus that has devastated coffee farms throughout central america, and 2) helping families provide food for themselves and take care of their health care needs without having to rely on income from the very volatile, unpredictable and undependable coffee trade. A lesser part of our work is to help honey producers improve their skills so they can maintain the quality of their honey, increase their productivity and increase their earnings. Additionally, we send some promising young people who work for us to gain access to higher education. Still, our work focuses mostly on agricultural resiliency and food sovereignty. As part of the projects, skills are taught each month for coffee resilience: application of effective microorganisms [ems] for the control of the roya fungus. Resistant varieties, pruning, soil conservation, drill control and fertilization; and every 15 days for healthy homes: production and use of ems, family gardens, raising and handling layers, improved stoves and water filters. Each promoter visits their beneficiaries to give them follow-up and support once a month in coffee resilience and every 15 days in healthy homes. The visits are crucial for the accompaniment and follow-up of the beneficiaries, even more important than the training since not everyone attends. Roya project [coffee resiliency]the most significant achievement of the coffee resilience program as a result of good coffee practices was an increase in average production. In the 2015/2016 harvest, the average of 9. 12qq [a quintal = 100lbs] in the 2016/2017 harvest was 10. 59qq, 1. 47qq difference and the projection 2017/2018 is 13. 26qq, 2. 67 more. It is very encouraging to note that 79% of partners apply ems at least 3 times per year, so la roya has decreased markedly and that fertilization practices with canavalia (39%) and brushwood location (71%) are growing. Block pruning has not been very well received (2%) more if selective (75%). The placement of drill traps was successfully implemented because 70% placed traps, taking into account that in some places the bit does not affect. In general, it is noted that producers are more interested in the most important rust and bit control practices, fertilization and pruning and reinforcement are necessary. The food sovereignty & health project [community resiliency]in resilience of the communities affected by the number of families that have increased the consumption of vegetables 3 times per week, they exceed the number of visits by the promoters to the beneficiaries, in the amount of training in handling of chickens which denotes the great effort to improve that component. Although the delivery of 10 hens is somewhat 53% low, the total deliveries of 10 and less than 10 hens add up to 80%, so the result is acceptable in addition to the mortality of hens has decreased significantly thanks to the applications of em and the sowing that has already been expanded, of curarina. It was difficult to increase the beneficiaries of food sovereignty because although new women joined the program, several withdrew because they did not feel comfortable with the fact that the program does not give the supplies, if there is no chain pass with the roosters and seeds and direct contributions with the cost of the improved stoves. An important change was made in the budget, which consisted in allocating surplus funds and the funds of the climatic stations to the purchase of marseillaise and obat seeds for almost all the members of the association in order to counteract the planting de sarchimor and catimor variatals that due to the way they are handled, the quality of the cup decreases, which in the future could affect the prices of the coffee exported by the chajulense association. In january, the seed purchased at finca san francisco will be received and distributed to associates. The visit of a financial management consultant, was received for the review of expenses and clarification of procedures, which was very useful for the chajulense and chajulense women accountants to carry the project accounts with greater order and better detail. The purchase of the 16 improved stoves was completed, 6 of which will be delivered at the beginning of 2018. These stoves are efficient and ventilated and seriously reduce the use of wood [and the time taken to collect it] and more importantly, and reduce the billowing black smoke from in-home, open-fire, unventilated homes that is the norm in the region. The water filters are still under experimentation because they are trying to promote a version with as many local materials as possible. The current experiments involve using the branch of a conifer tree. The challenge is that while the branch is a fantastically efficient filter, it clogs too frequently and is not yet practical to use. If the experiment does not work, the most accessible filter will be chosen. It was possible to implement 2 savings groups cuchubales as a pilot experience with 12 participants. With this experience you are ready to start implementing within the groups. There is a baseline, intermediate and final survey of 2017 for house resilience and baseline and final survey for 2017 for coffee resilience. Honey projecthoney producers received trainings in apiculture management. Educationscholarships were given to 3 staff members to attend higher education classes.