Colombia

"Sowing seeds of hope: re-establishing coffee production in Serrania del Perija"

Introduction

With the dislodging of the FARC, public order has been restored in the Serrania del Perija, department of Cesar. Families that fled from violence but are now returning to their former communities find that their houses and farms have been destroyed or suffered from neglect. This project, in collaboration with the National Coffee Growers Federation (FNC) and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Directorate-General for International Cooperation) as well as various regional governmental organisations such as the Department of Cesar and the mayors of Beceril and La Jagua de Ibirico, aims to assist returning coffee producers to re-establish not only their houses and farms, but their whole community.

Rebuilding affected communities starts nearly from scratch. In large parts of the coffee producing areas in the municipalities of Chiriguana, Becerril, Curumani and La Jagua de Ibiroico, infrastructure such as roads, water supply and sewage works need to be constructed, houses require rebuilding or extensive renovation works and coffee processing facilities need reconstruction. Bio-digester sytems and fuel efficient stoves are introduced to help ensure an adequate energy supply. Most of the coffee farms have suffered from neglect and many fields have to be replanted with new coffee trees. About 1.5 million coffee trees are made available. Selection of varieties to be distributed centres on agro-ecological suitability and quality potential. As coffee wasn't traded locally during the periods of violence, regional market linkages have collapsed and need to be re-established. Underpinning the return of trade to the area is the rebuilding of social networks, community trust and mutual assistance.

It was not only the communities themselves that suffered, also the environment has suffered. To enhance the local surrounding forest and to ensure an adequate supply of wood for construction and cooking, 300ha of forest is under conservation management and 75ha of forest is managed for timber and firewood production.

As farms are being re-established and become operational again, attention will be paid to coffee production practices and coffee quality, as the area has lots of potential as a producer of premium, high value, coffee. With time, implementation of UTZ certification is planned as well.

The Departmental Coffee Growers Committee of Cesar and Guarjira has been put in charge of project implementation. It has established a highly motivated multi-disciplinary team. The first seeds of hope seem to be germinating: many farmers are again talking about the future instead of dwelling on the terrible times in the recent past.

Focus of the project

Helping producers return to their land to re-build their farms and social structures.

Activities

• Establish 10 Coffee Growers Groups as basis for subsequent activities
• Rebuilding infrastructure
• Rebuilding farms and houses
• Rebuilding processing facilities
• Community building activities to promote social cohesion
• Training on nutrition, housing improvements, coffee production and processing and forest management, amongst others
• Re-connecting farmers to the official coffee and input supply markets

Results

• 470ha of coffee fields have been taken into production again
• Farmers have received training on coffee production and processing
• 600 families have been trained on health, hygiene and nutrition
• The local cooperative has re-established 2 coffee buying and input supply stations in the area
• farmers are looking forward again to the future

Partners

• FNC
• DGIS
• La gobernación del César

Contact information

Adriana Mejia Cuartas: adriana.mejiac@cafedecolombia.com.co
Sebastián Giraldo Naranjo: sebastian.giraldo@cafedecolombia.com