Agriculture Promoters. In order to support the efforts of RVCP technical personnel, the Project hired 16 agriculture promoters to work with the 43 producer groups. RVCP/ANACAFE technicians in Huehuetenango completed the activities summarized below. In coordination with the ANACAFE Marketing and Communications Department, RVCP prepared two producer groups (ASODIET and ASDEFLOR) to participate in business roundtables and set up initial contacts for future trade through coffee exporters. RVCP organized two field day activities to train coffee producers on integrated management for coffee rust disease, plantation renovation and wet mill processing to ensure coffee bean quality. The activities benefitted 1,218 producers (571 from Union Cantinil and 647 from Santa Xxxx Xxxxxxxx). RVCP coordinated efforts with the Italian donor agency to support three organizations (Cooperativa Esquipulas in La Libertad, Asociacion ASDEFLOR and Asociacion ASODIETT in Todos Xxxxxx Cuchumatan) by providing hand tools (pruning shears, saws, cutters and files) together with seeds for disease resistant coffee varietals (villa sarchi). As a result, growers set up a nursery of 30,000 seedlings to benefit the associations in Todos Xxxxxx Cuchumatan. The in-kind donation is the equivalent of GTQ 25,056. The Project coordinated efforts with the German donor agency to support organic coffee production by members from Cooperativa Rio Azul. The effort included a donation of construction material to set up a bio-factory and procure supplies for bio-fermentation equipment that aids in fertilization and pest/disease control. A total of four agricultural advisors and 20 agricultural promoters participated in a workshop on establishing and managing supplies for bio-factories to fertilize organic coffee grown in La Democracia, Huehuetenango. The Project took delivery of a consultancy report on strengthening knowledge on soil conservation as a measure to mitigate climate change. In addition, the Project used the “learn by doing” methodology to then train producers from 30 organizations. Furthermore, the Project set up demo plots on 13.28 hectares to showcase soil conservation techniques. RVCP funded the participation of two coffee producers and the ANACAFE Regional Coordinator to participate in an international coffee fair in Japan (SCAJ). Their participation allowed growers to promote high quality coffee and set up direct contacts with roasters and importers that may ultimately increase their sales and re...
