JUSTIFICATION OF THE PROJECT

One of the most important economic activities of the population in this area is coffee production. The excellent climate and soil allow the cultivation of high quality coffee.

Project ALA 94/89 has been improving the situation of small coffee farmers during the last 5 years. In view of this situation an agreement was signed among International Coffee Partners (ICP), Project ALA 94/89 and ACTASA. ICP in this moment is giving technical asistance in commercialization and marketing for high quality coffee. One of the goals of this project is to certify the coffee as sustainable and try to sell it in the specialty market.

Project ICP is a consortium between the private initiative of International Coffee Partners (ICP), the International Cooperation (UE - Project ALA 94/89) and two organizations of the local Poqomchi’ ethnic community: ACTASA (Association of Small Coffee Farmers of Tamahú and San Cristóbal) and ASILCOM (Association of Community Agroforesters).

Both groups work to increase the value of their products, coffee and wood, by working in an environmentally friendly way that is both socially acceptable and economically fair.

ICP is formed of five European companies active in coffee trade and roasting whose combined commercialization makes up 12% of world coffee production. These companies are:

1. Gustav Paulig Ltd.(Finland)
   
2. Lofbergs Lila A.B. (Sweden)
   
3. Luigi Lavazza S.p.A. (Italy)
   
4. Neumann Kaffee Gruppe (Germany)
   
5. Tchibo Frisch-Rost-Kaffee (Germany
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