ASSOCIATION
International Coffee Partners, actually gives technical assistance and commercial advice
about the products to the Poqomchi' Ethnic Associations. These association are:
ASSOCIATION OF SMALL COFFEE FARMERS OF TAMAHU AND SAN CRISTOBAL "ACTASA".
In 1997, the small coffee farmers of Tamahú and San Cristobal, with the help of Project ALA 94/89,
began to form an association. In 2001 they officially established the Association of Small Coffee Farmers of
Tamahú and San Cristobal (ACTASA) with the participation of 10 communities
( see the attached map).
The primary purpose of this association was to improve the channels of commercialization of
its products, which until then was made up of local intermediaries who often underpaid the
farmers. Now each group in these ten communities has its own infrastructure and communal coffee
processing facility, developed with the help of Project ALA and ICP. In 2001-2002, the
organization conducted their first commercialization campaign of dried parchment coffee.
The outstanding quality of their product immediately earned the organization a high reputation
in the national market. The project also promotes a technology package for sustainable coffee
production. ACTASA has 380 members.
ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY AGROFORESTERS "ASILCOM".
The Agroforestry Program in the Poqomchi area also began in 1997. Supported by
Project ALA 94/89, this program to date has reforested 1,200 hectares with the help of
PINFOR (Program of Incentives for Reforestation) and voluntary plantation campaigns.
A total of 25 agroforestry communities have been formed in the San Cristóbal-Tamahú area.
( see the attached map). These committees make up
the Association of Community Agroforesters (ASILCOM). ASILCOM aims to improve social,
environmental, and economic conditions in the communities through the processing and
commercialization of the highest quality forest products. ASILCOM has 350 members.
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