Behind a Great Coffee, a Great Leader

In a region of Colombia that has long suffered from violence and instability, coffee offers hope.

The department of Huila in southwest Colombia has ideal agronomic and climatic conditions for top-quality coffee, but unstable conditions held the industry back for years. Then the inspired leadership of a local coffee extensionist combined with the help of ACDI/VOCA brought success to the department’s coffee farmers.

Extensionist Brings Growers Together

In the municipality of Timana, in Huila, Robinson Figueroa (pictured at left, right side), an extensionist for the Colombian Coffee Federation, decided to do something dynamic to foster stability and economic prosperity in his community. He convened a select group of 40 coffee growers to discuss the coffee market and its economic potential in the region. Out of these discussions emerged Asprotimana, a growers’ association that represents local coffee-producing families. With Robinson’s determination and the farmers’ hard work, the association eventually achieved commercial and social success in this almost-forgotten region of Colombia.

To better serve Asprotimana, Figueroa sought training through the USAID Specialty Coffee Program. This program, implemented by ACDI/VOCA, provides assistance at key points along specialty coffee value chains, focusing in particular on supporting coffee growers and their local organizations. Thanks to the program, Figueroa received Q-grader certification at the Coffee Quality Insitute in Long Beach, California, and acquired knowledge and skills that allowed him to improve the quality of Asprotimana’s coffee.

Growers Profit from Brand’s Success

The association created the Café Colombia Timana brand, which is acclaimed for its superior quality, its FairTrade certification and for the fact that its growers’ association provides a better life to its members through higher incomes and better working conditions. Café Colombia Timana is now sold in the United States at Caribou Coffee and other stores, and received Consumer Reports magazine’s top ratings in its March 2009 and 2010 coffee reports.

The USAID Specialty Coffee Program has been a strategic ally and positive example for other coffee associations, as well. Thanks to the program, 52 farms have been certified with Rain Forest Alliance, and with 78 Fair Trade and 4-C labels, helping them access the most lucrative specialty coffee markets.

Robinson Figueroa and the program have helped the region live up to its coffee-growing potential, bringing economic stability to the farmers and top-quality coffee to consumers.

To learn more about ACDI/VOCA's USAID Specialty Coffee Program, click here.