Adding to basket
Elvin is 44, and he lives in his own house with his 34 year old life partner, Marcela. They have 5 children: Lidia, Michael, Mariela, Gilberto and Dalicio.
For 10 years, together with his wife and children, he has been growing “achote” (annato, a spice), citrus fruits, coffee, bananas, avocados, and pineapples on their own land. This activity is very profitable because it allows him to make his assets grow to have various houses and farms. He wants to be a good example for his children and neighbors. “I want my neighbors to say, ‘All of this harvest, all of the land the Elvin has, when before he had nothing. Look how he has grown and keeps growing. We also are working to have what he does.’ That is how I want them to talk,” he says.
Additionally, he has a nursery where he grows coffee plants for his farms and for sale. This gives him extra income.
This is his fourth loan with MFP. As always, he promises to be punctual with every payment. He wants to somehow thank the people who give him the opportunity to grow economically. He likes working in his communal bank. He will use the 2,000 PEN that he is now requesting to buy 200 citrus fruit plants (oranges and tangerines) and dozens of avocado grafts.
Translated from Spanish by Kiva volunteer Ginny Kalish. View original language description.
