Guillermo combats the effects of climate change in his fields
La Roya, or “coffee rust,” is a phenomenon that invaded Guatemalan coffee nearly ten years ago and continues to be an ongoing threat to small-scale coffee farmers, especially those at lower elevation. Although Guillermo’s coffee fields are situated at a higher elevation than the majority of the fields of the coffee farmers we work with, as a result of climate change, elevation is no longer a protective factor against la roya, which crept into his fields last year killing 50% of his harvest.
When De La Gente began accepting loan applications from the Young Entrepreneurs of San Miguel Escobar, Guillermo’s proposal included a detailed outline for the treatment and fertilization to implement in his coffee fields to combat la roya and ensure that the next harvest is fruitful. He was granted an $1,050, interest-free loan that he will pay back over the course of three years.
Upon receiving the financing in February, he immediately purchased fertilizer and is already seeing the results of consistent application. In April, with the first rainfall of the rainy season, coffee plants begin to flower which serves as an indicator of the coffee cherries that will begin ripening in November. Guillermo’s fields flowered just a few months ago, instilling hope for the next harvest. “It has been a major help receiving the loan to be able to buy fertilizer for my coffee and treat my fields,” he says. “My goal is to buy more land and produce more coffee so that my production continues to grow.”
As part of pursuing that goal, he used this opportunity to include in his proposal the purchase of three cuerdas (local unit of land equivalent to nearly an acre) of land on the slopes of Agua Volcano. He expresses gratitude for this opportunity to expand and grow as a coffee producer, and recognizes that this support is rooted in those who consume his product and in this way, support his goals. “If we didn’t have people buying our coffee, we wouldn’t have this income that allows us to achieve our goals. We are grateful to those who do so and choose to support us.”
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