In the rural communities of Matagalpa, Jinotega and Nueva Segovia, amidst mist-covered mountains and the aroma of freshly roasted coffee, thousands of Nicaraguan producers are transforming their relationship with the land. Through the Asómbrate programme, implemented by Solidaridad together with the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, farmers are learning, deepening and updating their knowledge of CSA practices to adapt to the region’s changing weather conditions. These new skills allow them to grow coffee and cocoa more sustainably.
The programme encompasses over 83 cooperatives that have served as strategic allies and a fundamental pillar in the implementation of Asómbrate. Through these cooperatives, 12,500 producers have been trained and 291 trainers formed using the Train the Trainers (ToT) methodology, which identifies and strengthens local technicians and leaders.
The training combines theoretical and practical sessions, complemented by farm visits to offer personalized follow-up. This process aims to deepen the understanding of CSA principles, covering topics such as soil preparation and health, the use of natural fertilizers, the selection of plants and trees to prevent erosion, leveraging local temperature variations and much more.
Producers attribute the programme’s success to the availability of appropriate training resources, which allow them to empower themselves, deepen their technical knowledge and gradually transform their habits toward these new practices. Furthermore, as part of the programme, 10,887 trees have been distributed among programme participants, contributing to the reforestation of 12,500 hectares.
A new opportunity in every corner of the plot
Primitivo Zeledón is a coffee and diversified crop farmer in the municipality of San Rafael del Norte, Nicaragua. His plot is located in an area that has gradually become populated by farming families. He notes that in one section of his land, no crop would thrive, and the area also suffered from landslides.
He explains that during a follow-up visit by Asómbrate trainers, he received guidance on planting bamboo in that specific area. Upon applying the planting and maintenance recommendations, the plants adapted quickly. Today, he watches the bamboo grow steadily, making better use of the land and reducing the risk of landslides in the area.
“Since then, I set out not to leave any zone of the plot unused. Every corner has a purpose, and it is fundamental to know the soil to get the best out of it. With Asómbrate, I have learned to understand and make better use of the resources I have on my plot,” concludes Primitivo, an associate of the El Gorrión Multi-Service Coffee Cooperative.
Efficient soil fertilization
César Sevilla Hoyos is a coffee and basic grains producer in the community of El Zancudal, Nicaragua. At home, he inspires his daughters to participate in the coffee world, involving them in the washing process and the accounting side of commercialization.
César comments that he previously used fertilization inefficiently, often over-fertilizing his coffee plants. This resulted in the production of “hollow beans” (defective/empty beans), amounting to as many as three tins out of every twenty harvested. By using fertilizer more efficiently, he has managed to reduce the number of hollow beans in his harvest.
“Often, we are the ones who block the soil’s nutrients through the excessive use of fertilizers. You start to believe that the more you fertilize, the bigger the harvest will be, but that’s not the case. In my instance, I was applying more fertilizer than necessary, and that only caused an increase in defective coffee beans, in addition to damaging soil health. I didn’t realize this until I started receiving the Asómbrate training,” says César, an associate of the El Gorrión Multi-Service Coffee Cooperative.
Moving towards continuous improvement
Within Asómbrate’s lines of training, there is also a drive toward a resilient and regenerative economy, supporting producers in joining the voluntary carbon credit market through the ACORN platform.
A carbon credit, or CRU (the programme’s currency), is equivalent to one ton of carbon dioxide that has been avoided or removed from the atmosphere through sustainable activities, such as introducing shade trees into coffee and cocoa systems. Producers receive training on what they are, how to generate them and how to trade them. It is a process that takes time, but in the long run, it bears much fruit.
