COCAOL

The Coffee Cooperative of Olancho (COCAOL) in Honduras was established in November 1968 by a small group of coffee producers with a view to accessing improved conditions in productive infrastructure, improved sales and marketing channels and access to finance. 
COCAOL obtained its legal status as a cooperative in May 1969, offering a range of services to its members including organic agricultural supplies, transport, wetmill processing, drying, and also training in a number of topics such as coffee cultivation and cooperativism. 
The coffee farms of the members are located in the Agalta National Mountain Park at altitudes between 1000 and 1500 metres above sea level. The cultivation practices include shade growing, organic fertilization. The main varieties are Lempira, Ihcafe90, Parainema, Catuai, Caturra, Tipica and Bourbon. 
In April 2019, COCAOL has 83 members, of which 83 are men and 35 are women. Current production capacity is in and around 506 Metric tonnes of Green Coffee.

During harvest 2015-2016 COCAOL constructed a new drymill processing plant with accompanying equipment and storage space. This has enabled the cooperative to have greater control over important elements of the harvest and post harvest operations, ensuring a higher degree of coordination around issues such as quality control, farmer feedback and transport and logistic issues.  The development of a cupping quality control laboratory has been a key factor in allowing the cooperative to gain access to new markets and new customers.

COCAOL has a proactive programme of technical support to its farmer members and has specialised in the formulation and production of quality organic compost fertilizer. 
The development of the drymill processing capacity, alongside the establishment of the cupping laboratory has given rise to a renewed interest of young rural farmers in becoming cooperative members.   The youth development programme embarked on by the cooperative has resulted in a number of family members of cooperative members now taking up key positions of importance in the cooperative.

COCAOL has a particular interest in promoting gender equity in its organizational processes. Historically, men have had much higher levels of participation in the business of the cooperative and that still pertains with current membership at 51 men and 18 women. However, the cooperative has been proactive in looking at ways to bring about a greater degree of gender equity in the organization.  
The Roasted Coffe project was developed to help create new forms of income diversification and at the same time promote the participation of women coffee members and ensure their access to use and control of organizational resources. Since its inception in 2015 the project has managed to create a market in the local community of Santa María Real and in the nearby town of Catacamas.  As a result the appreciation and desire for good quality coffee has greatly increased!