- Salvadoran coffee producer is getting better prices when selling coffee, thanks to selective harvesting practices learned in MOCCA training.
Teresa Rivas, 68, is an exemplary coffee farmer from Santa Ana, El Salvador. Since she was a child, coffee has been an essential part of her life. She grew up in a coffee-growing family and, 25 years ago, she began her own path as a producer after inheriting a block of land. With dedication and effort, she managed to expand her farm to three blocks, turning her passion into a means of livelihood for her family and her community.
For Teresa, coffee farming is not just a job, but a source of pride. “I am motivated by seeing the harvest, because it is the fruit of my effort and also a way to generate employment for my community,” she says.
Despite her experience, Teresa faced challenges due to a lack of technical knowledge, which affected the quality of her coffee and her income. For years, she struggled to obtain fair prices in a competitive market with few fair marketing options.
In 2022, Teresa decided to join the MOCCA program trainings, where she found key tools to transform her production. She learned practices such as selective harvesting, which allowed her to significantly improve the quality of her coffee.
“Thanks to the selective harvesting practices learned in MOCCA training, I have improved the quality of my coffee. MOCCA connected me with Café Tuxpal to sell my coffee to them. This last harvest, they paid me over 50% more for each quintal of green coffee!”
Teresa Rivas
Coffee producer
Santa Ana, El Salvador
MOCCA is a 7-year initiative funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) through its Food for Progress Program, which seeks to improve agricultural productivity and expand trade in agricultural products. The MOCCA project is being executed by a consortium led by TechnoServe. Lutheran World Relief leads the cocoa activities.
With the profits from her last harvest, Teresa invested in her farm. She bought a chainsaw to make daily chores easier and made traps to combat the coffee berry borer, ensuring more efficient management of her crops.
In addition to being a successful producer, Teresa actively promotes the role of women in coffee growing. She shares her knowledge with other producers, encouraging them to implement good agricultural practices and improve their farms. “Every effort counts to boost the coffee sector in El Salvador,” she says proudly.
Teresa Rivas is a living example of how passion, continuous learning and collaboration can transform lives and communities.
