Adding to basket
Antonio is a farmer who has been in the business of growing coffee for 25 years. He lives with his wife and son. Antonio is in the process of converting from conventional to organic coffee farming. To reinforce this process, he needs to buy a grinder, a scythe, and stationary equipment, tools that will help him to improve work on his farm, and increase both his production and the quality of his coffee. This investment will cost him 4,000,000 pesos.
His long-term goal is to become a complete, fully organic farm, with both major and minor species to make organic fertilizers and improve the nutrition of his family. He also dreams of being certified as an organic grower by the FCC (Federación Campesina del Cauca, or Cauca Farmer's Association). He is convinced that clean and healthy farming is worth the trouble. On a family level, Antonio wants to keep training himself on organic farming and support his son as he studies for a career that will help bring technology to the farm and improve its processes.
The conversion and production of organic coffee is a key process toward a long-term that is independent, healthy, balanced, and friendly with respect to the environment. This represents a challenge for the farmers of Colombia, and Antonio has decided not to risk his health, his family's, or his consumers' by continuing to use chemicals. The FCC is convinced that it's worthwhile to support and strengthen these alternative initiatives. A loan from Kiva represents a sustainable future for his production, his land, and his family.
Translated from Spanish by Kiva volunteer Shannon Skoglund. View original language description.
