Cac huadquiña
Coffee producer in Peru
CAC ±á³Ü²¹»å±ç³Ü¾±Ã±²¹ provides a stable livelihood for 310 smallholder farmers in the south of Peru, each growing quality Fairtrade and Organic coffee on 948 hectares of farmland along some of the highest mountainsides in the world.
Image: 17cÆð²ÝÊÓƵ Lending Officer for South America, Santiago, meets with CAC ±á³Ü²¹»å±ç³Ü¾±Ã±²¹ coffee collection staff in the co-operative's warehouse in 2025.
Invest°ä´¡°äÌý±á³Ü²¹»å±ç³Ü¾±Ã±²¹Ìýprovides a stable livelihood for 310Ìýsmallholder farmers in the south of Peru,Ìýeach growing quality Fairtrade and Organic coffee on 948 hectares of farmland along some of the highest mountainsides in the world. Ìý
17cÆð²ÝÊÓƵ and CAC ±á³Ü²¹»å±ç³Ü¾±Ã±²¹
17cÆð²ÝÊÓƵ has supported CACÌý±á³Ü²¹»å±ç³Ü¾±Ã±²¹Ìýwith finance since 2022, helping the organisation to secure and fulfil coffee contracts and grow. The co-operative currently trades one-quarter of its coffee locally and exports theÌýremainderÌýto buyers in France, Germany,ÌýGreeceÌýand America. One of CACÌý±á³Ü²¹»å±ç³Ü¾±Ã±²¹â€™sÌýmain buyers is ethical UK-based coffee retailer and friend of 17cÆð²ÝÊÓƵ,Ìý°ä²¹´Úé»å¾±°ù±ð³¦³Ù.Ìý
RegardingÌýthe role of 17cÆð²ÝÊÓƵ in CACÌý±á³Ü²¹»å±ç³Ü¾±Ã±²¹â€™sÌýwork,ÌýJhonyÌýsaid: Ìý
"17cÆð²ÝÊÓƵ financing has had a positive impact on theÌý±á³Ü²¹»å±ç³Ü¾±Ã±²¹Ìýcooperative, especially in offering [us]: access to fast and timely financing to compete with intermediaries who destabilize local market prices; economic growth [to] expand by generating jobs and strengthening the collections with financing, [and] improving the quality of life of producers with fair and timely payment for their coffee, supported by the financing granted by 17cÆð²ÝÊÓƵ."Ìý
"Thanks to [17cÆð²ÝÊÓƵ’s] efficient management, the co-operative has been able to significantly improve its coffee collections [...] fulfilling the contracts signed with customers on the agreed dates for the shipment of coffee containers, allowing for greater transparency and trust between members and directors.Ìý
“But what I really highlight is the help that 17cÆð²ÝÊÓƵ has provided in times of necessity. Its support and solidarity have been fundamental for many of our members,ÌýdemonstratingÌýthat it is more than a financial institution, it is a community that shares interest in strengthening and financial sustainability in each coffee campaign.â€Ìý
Farmers' Voice Radio
In 2024, Peruvian coffee co-operative CACÌý±á³Ü²¹»å±ç³Ü¾±Ã±²¹Ìýparticipated in the Farmers’ Voice Radio Academy and officially graduated from the course in 2025.Ìý
Announcing toÌýLinkedIn, Farmers' Voice Radio said:Ìý Ìý
CACÌý±á³Ü²¹±ç³Ü¾±Ã±²¹â€™sÌýFarmers’ Voice Radio programme will be broadcast on two radio stations in the indigenous Quechua language, reaching an audience of 2,000 families in the Santa Teresa district of Cusco, southern Peru.ÌýÌý"CooperativaÌýAgrariaÌýCafetaleraÌý±á³Ü²¹±ç³Ü¾±Ã±²¹Ìýis the recipient of our first small grant for graduates of the Latin America Farmers’ Voice Radio Academy. Five members ofÌý±á³Ü²¹±ç³Ü¾±Ã±²¹â€™sÌýmanagement and field team attended the online training and coaching course at the end of last year, alongside peers from 11 other smallholder coffee producer organisations based in Peru, Nicaragua and Honduras."Ìý
The programme aims to increase the reach and impact of the training and extension services offered by the co-operative to its members, with a focus on sustainable land management, building resilience to the impacts of climate change and meeting evolving EU regulations.Ìý
Explaining why he wants to learn to produce radio programmes, Omar, a member of CACÌý±á³Ü²¹»å±ç³Ü¾±Ã±²¹, said: Ìý Ìý
‘We want to communicate and inform [our members] about the activities of the organisation and topics related to agricultural techniques, production, socialÌýissuesÌýand quality control. We also aim to broadcast the policies on collection, financing, and the national and international market situation.â€ÌýÌý
“Farmers’ Voice Radio could help [members be] better informed, trained and educated; board members being accountable for management on the radio, and staff being more committed to the cooperative.â€ÌýÌý
JhonyÌýGayosoÌýValdera, General Manager of CACÌý±á³Ü²¹±ç³Ü¾±Ã±²¹, said:Ìý Ìý
Back to map“Farmers’ Voice Radio strengthens capacities, skills, and knowledge through a shared experience among producers, who express their concerns. These concerns are analysed by the Programme Reference Group and invited professionals to deepen immediate solutions, allowing for improved agronomic practices, higher yields and quality, economic empowerment of both men and women, and greater resilience to climate change.ÌýUltimately, thisÌýcontributes to more secure livelihoods, maximizing the quality of life for producers in society.â€Ìý