NCBA - National Cooperative Business Association
04/30/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/30/2024 10:07
For National Volunteer Month, our first Farmer-to-Farmer volunteer goes to the Amazon
Mr. Augusto Salazar, Waylla Kuri's founder and current president helping with translation from Spanish to Kichwa during the coffee harvest and post-harvest assignment.
Located in the Northeast of the Amazonas tropical forest, the Amazon region of Ecuador, sometimes referred to as Amazonia or Oriente, hasincredible biodiversity and cultural richness. This vast jungle/wilderness area, home to a surprising array of plant and animal species, also plays a crucial role in the global coffee supply chain. Its unique soil and climate conditions create ideal growing conditions for Robusta coffee, which comes from the Coffea Canephoraplant. The cultivation of Robusta coffee sums up around 30% of the global coffee production making it the second most popular coffee variety.
Coffee cultivation in the Ecuadorian Amazon provides a livelihood for local communities, including Kichwa, Shuar, Waorani, and Achuar, among others It also contributes to the conservation of the Amazon ecosystem as it is cultivated mainly under agroforestry and chakra systems. The chakrais a Kichwa term that describes a traditional sustainable agroecological production method. TheWaylla Kuri Rukullakta Agricultural Production Association(ASOPROAKURI) grows Robusta coffee to pursue a harmonious relationship with the environment and farmers' livelihoods. Waylla Kuri, which means "Green Gold" in the Kichwa language, was founded in 2015 by Mr. Augusto Salazar, a passionate coffee producer who dreamed of transforming the lives of his community through fair trade and sustainable coffee production.
ASOPROAKURI has benefitted from the NCBA CLUSA Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) program since 2020. Some capacity areas they have addressed/strengthened through this program include leadership, by-laws, organizational strengthening, biofertilizers, coffee post-harvest, and marketing through social media. Several of the results of these assignments reflected on the growth of the association from 16 to 31 members since 2021, the improvement of their social media pictures and product display, and the development of better biofertilizer recipes to increase productivity. To continue their organizational strengthening to better deliver to their members, ASOPROAKURI is eagerly waiting for their next F2F assignment just in time for National Volunteer Week from April 21-27th!
Daniel Lavin has performed seven assignments in financial literacy, accounting, strategic planning, and entrepreneurship with the NCBA CLUSA, and nine with other F2F implementers. From Latin America to Africa, he passes on his enthusiasm and passion through these F2F assignments. Dan is getting ready to go to the field once again with ASOPROAKURI. For the next two weeks, he'll be working alongside the coffee producers lending a hand, helping the association navigate its growth and expansion. He will be acting as part teacher, part strategic advisor - training a new accountant and working with producers to better understand their finances. This knowledge will allow them to make smarter business decisions, increase sales, and secure a brighter future for their communities. As Dan states: "As a tourist, you see the world through jaded glasses and are served out of obligation. As a volunteer with Farmer-to-Farmer, you partner with local Field Coordinators and Host Organizations to solve a challenge THEY identify and prioritize. You form a team, a family, and make a difference with people that appreciate it the most."
The Farmer-to-Farmer program connects skilled volunteers like Dan with producer organizations around the world. NCBA CLUSA is preparing for 40 F2F assignments on brand policy creation, organic fertilizers, organizational strengthening, business management, chocolate making, gender equity, coffee harvest, and post-harvest management, among othersin Ecuador, Peru, Honduras, and El Salvador from April to September 2024. 2024.
And guess what? You could be next!
Don't miss your chance to make a real difference. You can email [email protected]with your updated resume and experience. We can't wait to review your application and welcome you to the F2F team!