ASOBAGRI
La Asociación Barillense de Agricultores (ASOBAGRI) was established in 1986 and formally legalized in 1989. Starting off with 20 producers, the main objective was to organize in a collective manner in order to maintain access to the coffee market at a time when coffee prices had plummeted. By 1996 the association had increased to 100 producer members and in 1999 ASOBAGRI, already having secured organic certification, also obtained Fairtrade certification and exported its first three containers of coffee to the international market.
At the beginning of 2019, ASOBAGRI now has almost 1278 members of whom 362 are women and 916 men. ASOBAGRI now has a number of certifications including Fairtrade, Organic, Bird Friendly, Manos de Mujer and its product is accredited by European Union and Japanese standards bodies. Its coffee is classified and exported under three principal qualities: Strictly Hard Bean (SHB), Hard Bean (HB) and Semi Hard Bean (XHB). Coffee varieties cultivated include: Borbón, Caturra, Villalobos and Típica, at altitudes ranging from 1150 to 1650 metres above sea level. In harvest 2017-2018 ASOBAGRI exported 58 containers to the international market place including United States, Canada, Japan and a number of European countries.
It is important to point out that almost all the coffee of ASOBAGRI is cultivated organically and sold as such in the international market.
ASOBAGRI has a specific focus on the development of the women and youth of the communities where their members are based. This focus is aptly demonstrated by projects which are being implemented in 2019. These include:
Capacity building in business development:
This Project aims to support over 500 members of ASOBAGRI (60% men, 25% women and 15% male and female producers under the age of 18) in developing improved management practices in their farms by introducing agro forestry cultivation systems that improve productivity, conserve the environment and increase income diversification potential.
Demonstration farms:
ASOBAGRI has established 29 demonstration farms with a view to creating models of farming and farm management practices that bring about improved quality, increased quality, enhanced income and simultaneously respect and nurture the conservation of the environment.
Scholarship Programme for university education:
ASOBAGRI currently supports 11 young men and 5 young women in pursuing appropriate university qualifications. They in turn will use these skills and knowledge sets to help enhance the efforts of ASOBAGRI and other like minded private and state institutions to bring about the sustainable development of the communities where the members of the association operate.
For more information on ASOBAGRI, please visit the association’s website at: www.asobagri.com.gt
