The Maya Ixil cooperative — in the mountains of the tropical Ixcan region, in the department of El Quiché and the tiny town of Santa Avelina — is helping farmers to improve their communities and livelihoods.
Maya Ixil evolved in response to sinking coffee prices and a need to increase profitability for farmers in the communities of San Juan Cotzal, San Gaspar Chajul and Santa Maria Nebaj. In 1998, the group began to organize and succeeded in gaining Organic certification. In 2004, it earned Fair Trade certification as well. These certifications signify not only an improvement in co-op members’ quality of life but also improvements to their environment through sustainable practices.
Maya Ixil now has nearly 200 members and is currently using its Fair Trade premiums to build a school for the community, as well as to fund the following initiatives:
Computer Studies Academy
Maya Ixil maintains a computer lab, to provide students in the region with access to technology.
Technical Assistance Workshops
Maya Ixil contracts agronomists to lead group workshops, as well as to provide direct technical assistance on individual farms.
Women’s Microcredit Fund
Coffee farming is heavily dominated by men in this community, though Maya Ixil does have 12 members who are women. To empower the wives of farmers to engage in additional economic pursuits, Maya Ixil created a microcredit fund to support income diversification plans, such as purchasing materials to raise livestock or to produce handicrafts and textiles. The additional income they generate both benefits the families and helps to promote gender equality in the community.
Beekeeping Teaching Program
A pilot project by Food 4 Farmers has promoted commercial beekeeping among coffee producers. For years, InterAmerican has paid for or contributed to the salary of Domingo de la Cruz Toma, the apiary teacher for the Maya Ixil program. The beekeeping program offers the three-fold benefits of improving coffee crops through the addition of pollinators, providing an additional source of nutrition to farming families, and creating a supplemental source of income.
Speaking to beekeeping’s long-term potential to improve the lives of farmers, Domingo explains, “My commitment doesn’t stop with my work, but is a small seed to hopefully grow the sustainability of this work for future generations.
Cupping notes: Toffee, pear, honeydew.
