Honduran Institute for Coffee

Published purpose

This project provides assistance to 12 coffee cooperatives in 13 municipalities. The Honduran Institute for Coffee (IHCAFE) promotes sustainable coffee production practices, such as shade-grown pesticide-free coffee, to shift small-scale producers away from traditional practices that generate low yields and income and pollute water sources. IHCAFE provides training to producers and access to essential inputs, such as credit and high-yield varieties, as well as technology to improve post-harvest quality and reduce losses. IHCAFE also aims to strengthen the capacity of cooperatives in business plan development and marketing and to assist the cooperatives in obtaining internationally-recognized organic certification. This certification enables producers to gain access to high-value international coffee markets. The project is a component of the Agriculture Value Chain Initiative. The goal of the Initiative is to enhance food security for poor rural Hondurans. It aims to increase the annual income of small-scale producers through improvements in productivity, quality, and diversity in the coffee and cacao sectors.