Women Coffee Producers

To recognize and promote the work women do growing and producing coffee around the world, the Women Coffee Producers project was established to highlight organizations and associations of women producers in various countries. The program aims to address the widespread wage inequity that women experience by adding a gender-equity premium on top of a base price.

The women producers in Nicaragua receive an additional premium that helps women to obtain legal land titles. In Jinotega, women own only 15% of the land – a key asset to access microcredit loans for production and other economic activities that permit a better quality of life.

Women Finca Los Positos

Finca Los Positos is owned by Maria Estanislada Martinez. This 21.35-hectare farm is located near Palo Blanco, a small rural community in the department of Jinotega, in northern Nicaragua. It's situated in a region known for its lush landscapes and mountainous terrain. Life in the village tends to be simple, with strong ties between neighbors and a focus on traditional practices. The community has a local primary school and church. Access to services and infrastructure is limited, so residents often rely on each other and local resources. The area is characterized by its agricultural activities, with many residents engaging in farming as a primary livelihood. The community often grows crops like coffee, corn, beans, and various vegetables.

Coffee cultivation at Los Positos is a family legacy passed down from generation to generation. Maria Estanislada grew up around coffee and learned from her parents all the effort and work that coffee production takes. Her parents inherited her 1 ha of coffee and a truck. She decided to sell the car, buy more land, and plant more coffee.

Coffee at Los Positos is shade-grown and hand-picked. Wet milling and fermentation are done at the farm. The coffee is then sun-dried on African beds at the Aldea Coffee Processing Facility.

The farm is an engine of employment and development in the community, providing jobs for 30 full-time employees. During the harvest season, Los Positos hires up to 100 temporary workers, who find a dignified and respectful work environment on the farm. The work provides them with services such as food and accommodation and pays above the minimum wage. Los Positos believes that respecting their workers' effort and dedication is fundamental to the success of the farm.

Los Positos implements an eco-friendly system, integrating wood trees, citrus, bananas, and coffee. With a deep respect for the environment, the farm is committed to conserving vital natural resources, implementing sustainable practices, such as using an Eco-Mill, honey water treatment system, and maintaining a harmonious balance with local wildlife.

Thanks to the income generated from coffee, the farm has significantly improved its kitchen and wet mill and built a house for the family.

Maria Estanislada plans to pass her legacy to her two sons. She has already inherited each of them 1 ha of coffee land to start building their own farms. She also wants to continue growing, so she plans to buy more land to produce coffee.