Stories of Change
Miguel Chacon and his nephew Fabian Alvarez Chaco
Miguel - creating a better future
It’s hard to make a living as a rural farmer in Colombia. Many struggle to pay the bills and provide for their families with even the basic necessities. Markets for traditional agricultural products remain depressed and are unable to provide a living wage for those who harvest them, so hopes for many farmers are pinned on the coffee harvest – yet coffee is also a volatile commodity whose prices are dictated by fluctuating world markets.
Coffee for Miguel Chacon however, has been the key to successfully creating a livelihood that has helped ensure his two sons have been able to take steps towards a better future. One of his sons is studying law in nearby San Gil and the other now works with him in construction and as a farmer.
Miguel says his advantage has come from the benefits he receives as a member of a local coffee cooperative. APCO is the Fairtrade coffee cooperative from which Miguel receives a higher than average coffee price for his harvest and with which he collaboratively decides how to spend the community portion of the price the cooperative receives through Fairtrade membership (the fair trade social premium). Miguel has used his share of this social premium to construct a coffee warehouse, a compost facility, a fish pond which provides him with 250 fish annually, gain training in pisciculture, and to buy cows of which he currently has seven. He has also bought chickens which provide eggs for the family.
As well as these welcome additions to his livelihood Miguel produces Panela, a form of sugar, as do many others in his community, but with the low prices it fetches in the market, he realises that life would be very different if he was relying on it for his livelihood.
Miguel met Trade Aid’s Coffee Manager Justin Purser in 2009.
Coffee for Miguel Chacon however, has been the key to successfully creating a livelihood that has helped ensure his two sons have been able to take steps towards a better future. One of his sons is studying law in nearby San Gil and the other now works with him in construction and as a farmer.
Miguel says his advantage has come from the benefits he receives as a member of a local coffee cooperative. APCO is the Fairtrade coffee cooperative from which Miguel receives a higher than average coffee price for his harvest and with which he collaboratively decides how to spend the community portion of the price the cooperative receives through Fairtrade membership (the fair trade social premium). Miguel has used his share of this social premium to construct a coffee warehouse, a compost facility, a fish pond which provides him with 250 fish annually, gain training in pisciculture, and to buy cows of which he currently has seven. He has also bought chickens which provide eggs for the family.
As well as these welcome additions to his livelihood Miguel produces Panela, a form of sugar, as do many others in his community, but with the low prices it fetches in the market, he realises that life would be very different if he was relying on it for his livelihood.
Miguel met Trade Aid’s Coffee Manager Justin Purser in 2009.
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