- Honduran coffee grower Merlin Portillo increased the productivity of his coffee plantation by implementing the selective harvesting and shade management practices learned at MOCCA.
- In Honduras, MOCCA is supported by the Dutch company Jacobs Douwe Egberts (JDE), which owns numerous beverage brands (coffee, tea and hot chocolate), as well as the company Keurig Dr Peppper (KDP).
In the municipality of San Andrés, in the department of Lempira (Honduras), lives Merlin Portillo, a dedicated 29-year-old coffee producer. Merlin, married and father of two children, began his journey in the world of coffee in 2015, inspired by his brothers, who are also coffee growers.
Motivated by the promise of a better income for his family, Merlin decided to follow the same path as his brothers. However, he faced several challenges, such as coffee pests and diseases, labor shortages, and the impacts of climate change. These problems hampered the productivity of his farm, putting his family’s well-being at risk.
However, in 2022, Merlin found an opportunity to improve his situation by joining the MOCCA program trainings, acquiring valuable knowledge about pruning practices, organic fertilizer preparation, selective harvesting, and shade management.
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.
The results were not long in coming. Thanks to the best agronomic practices learned, the productivity of Merlin’s farm increased significantly.
“Before, I barely produced 10 quintals of coffee per manzana of land, but now, with the practices learned in MOCCA training, I have managed to produce up to 25 quintals per manzana of land”
Merlin Portillo
Coffee producer
Lempira, Honduras
Merlin attributes this success to the selective harvesting and shade management practices implemented on his plantation.
The increase in productivity at Merlin Portillo’s coffee farm was also reflected in his income, which increased by 25%. With the profits, he was able to improve his coffee processing equipment and make significant improvements to his home, providing a better quality of life for his family.
Merlin’s story is a testament to perseverance, learning and adaptation. His success has not only transformed his life and that of his family, but has also ignited a spark of hope in his community, proving that with dedication and commitment, it is possible to overcome challenges and achieve success.
