THE HAGUE, The Netherlands – The new project “Access to Sustainable Markets and Food Security for coffee and cacao growers in Nicaragua” sets out to achieve an ambitious goal of improving 5,000 coffee and cacao farmers´ incomes and food security in Nicaragua. The project will work in the Nicaraguan Departments of Estelí, Madriz, Nueva Segovia, Matagalpa, Jinotega and Río San Juan.
The international not-for-profit development organisation SNV is implementing the project in partnership with Exportadora Atlantic of the ECOM Group, the Foundation for Agricultural and Forestry Technological Development (FUNICA), Zamarano Panamerican Agricultural School and the Utz Certified Foundation.
The Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ECOM Group have contributed over € 10 million for the project, which will be implemented over five years.
This initiative leverages the expertise of the project partners in markets, financial services, technological innovation, business development, market and value chain linkages and experience with farmers´ associations.
Through combining this experience and working actively with the participating farmers, the project seeks to reduce poverty and improve food security and strengthen the capacity of 20 organisations.
The project partners will focus their work on access to specilty markets, improving participating associations´ business management, technical assistance, technological innovation, diversification of agricultural production, food security, and nutritional education focused on the availability, access and consumption of healthy food.
In addition to increasing the income of 5,000 small scale coffee and cacao grower families, the project will also contribute to integrating the coffee and cacao sectors, generating new jobs and positioning Nicaragua in specialty coffee markets.
Source: SNV
