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In a ceremony held on August 23, the Regional Association of Organic Coffee Producers of Larecaja (APCERL), inaugurated its new dry processing coffee plant, as part of the activities of the project “Consolidating a model of integral and sustainable development of the coffee chain in Northern Tropical La Paz”, financed by USAID and executed with technical support of Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS).
The plant has been built in the pieces of land owned by the association, in the industrial area of Villa Imperial, in El Alto city. A 300m2 platform (storehouse) fully equipped for husking and coffee grain selection: one husking machine, one shaker screen, size-classification board and three bucket suspenders. The implemented dry processing plant has a husking capacity of 1200 coffee sacs, each of them of 60 kg. Additionally, coffee husks will be obtained which will be used as rooting bed for coffee seedlings.
Consolidating the implementation of good coffee growing practices in a 283.5 hectares, complying with organic production regulations, and monitoring processes of harvest and post harvest, has contributed to the 68 partners of APCERL (from six communities in the municipality of Teoponte) significantly increase sales volumes and income. In 2010, 78 metric tons of green coffee were commercialized totaling 381.00 $us., while in 2011 the volume reached 97 tons worth 678.000 $us., almost double the previous year’s earnings. A crucial aspect of the process has been the organizational strengthening of the association, which has allowed its members to have statutes and regulations that are appropriate to their current needs, as well as participate in continuous training in different areas of productive development and the commercialization of under shade coffee. At the time, the association has managed to consolidate niche markets for certified organic and fair trade market coffee in the U.S., Germany and Holland.
Additionally, the coffee production area of APCERL is located in the humid montane forests, one of the most outstanding ecosystems for its biodiversity, and the area of influence of Madidi National Park and Natural Area for Integrated Management. Due to the characteristics of the coffee produced in the region, highly valued for its quality and aroma, this activity is not only a major economic alternative for communities, but promotes biodiversity conservation by stopping the advance of the agricultural frontier and the vicious circle of degradation, poverty and further degradation. Production techniques of under shade coffee are compatible with the wildlife conservation objectives, contributing to protect the habitat of a diversity of birds and species with large spatial requirements, such as the Andean bear and the Military Macaw.
Photo: Mileniusz Spanowicz/WCS