Colombia - Organic

In the remote coffee-growing communities of southern Tolima, Colombia, the Asociación de Productores Agropecuarios de Santa Rosa (ASPRASAR) was founded with a simple goal: to create opportunities for smallholder coffee families who had long been overlooked.

What started as 18 families banding together in 2016 has grown into 73 producer families committed to quality coffee and community development. Women play a central role in this work – not only as producers, but also as leaders shaping the organization’s future.

There are 30 women producers in the association. They are part of a group called MOKABYHS, which stands for Mujeres Caficultoras de Bilbao y Herrera (Women Coffee Producers of Bilbao and Herrera), representing the two communities where they live and work. Today, women contribute roughly 40% of the total coffee produced by the organization.

All of the women in the group are producers as well as managers of their farms. They are involved in the entire coffee process, from harvesting to processing.

Women tend to be very dedicated and detail-oriented in their processes. Their patience and dedication to detail shows up clearly in the harvest yield and quality of the final cup.

This co-op takes a forward-thinking approach and reinvests its coffee profits. They fund honey water treatment systems and self-made organic fertilizer production, ensuring long-term environmental and economic resilience. By creating fertilization plans, they provide crops with the nutrients needed, avoiding excess use and minimizing environmental impact.

Beyond Coffee
In addition to resources for coffee production, ASPRASAR also organizes trainings and community activities. There are leadership and personal development seminars featuring professionals across many fields, including psychology, to support the women of ASPRASAR with personal growth and well-being. Many women initially feel shy about speaking in public or participating in leadership spaces; programming like this can help them build confidence and feel more comfortable sharing their voices.