FAO of the UN:
Elizabeth Méndez, a Guna Indigenous woman from Panama wakes up at sunrise to make her coffee before a busy day at work.
FAO of the UN:
Guna Indigenous woman, Elizabeth Méndez, harvesting coffee. “I’ve been harvesting coffee since I was a little girl, but sometimes we didn’t understand how to best take care of this precious plant,“ says Elizabeth.
FAO of the UN:
Coffee is an important source of income for many Indigenous Peoples in Panama. However, in recent years, these communities have struggled to maintain their traditional methods of production, and compete in a changing market.
FAO of the UN:
For Elizabeth Méndez and other coffee farmers in Panama, quality coffee production means a better future for their families and communities.
FAO of the UN:
Malena Morales belongs to the Hato Ratón community in Ngäbe-Buglé community, located in the western mountainous area region of Panama.
FAO of the UN:
Hato Ratón community has the optimal conditions to produce Arabica coffee, but its remote location makes access difficult and producers have to rely on intermediaries.
FAO of the UN:
Indigenous woman from the Hato Ratón community holding her baby. Indigenous Peoples have tremendous cultural, social, linguistic and historical wealth. But they face significant challenges, when translating this wealth into local opportunities.
FAO of the UN:
Coffee farmer from Hato Ratón in the Ngäbe-Buglé Comarca holding his coffee beans. He is one of the many Indigenous farmers in Panama that are improving their coffee production thanks to a training programme in sustainable agroecological practices.
FAO of the UN:
Female member from Hato Ratón in the Ngäbe-Buglé Comarca standing in front of her house.
FAO of the UN:
Indigenous coffee producers in Panama learn new production methods that are effective, resilient to climate change and respectful of traditional knowledge and practices.
FAO of the UN:
"Thanks to the farmer field schools, we learned about management and how we can take care of our plant when it gets sick,” says Linelia Vacorizo, Indigenous woman from Arimae community.
FAO of the UN:
Dry coffee beans from the Hato Ratón community in Ngäbe-Buglé. Coffee has long played an important role in the livelihoods of many Indigeneous Peoples' in Panama.
FAO of the UN:
Irene Cansari, an Indigenous woman from the Ipeti Choco community and coffee producer standing in front of Indigenous crafts made by her and other women in the community.
FAO of the UN:
“Harvesting coffee helps us not just economically, but also to take care of our sacred land, the ecology and the environment,” says coffee producer from the Indigeneous Peoples' community of Ipeti Choco.
FAO of the UN:
Group of young Emberá women. Preserving their native language and passing on rich traditions and culture is very important for the Indigenous Peoples of Panama.
FAO of the UN:
Young Indigenous woman from an Emberá community holding a coffee cup from Café Duran. By partnering with Café Durán, a roasting company in the coffee sector in Panama, Indigenous communities are gaining the opportunity to have access to a fair market.
FAO of the UN:
Freshly-harvested coffee beans from producers in the Emberá-Wounaan Indigenous Peoples' community of Arimae in Panama.
FAO of the UN:
“Before, we used to farm in a very rustic way. I used to get very worried when seeing the roots of my coffee plants drying up and not being able to understand what was going on or what to do,” says Linelia, Emberá Indigenous woman.
FAO of the UN:
Leomar Pérez, a young member of the Guna Indigenous Peoples.
FAO of the UN:
Indigenous woman and coffee producer from a Ngäbe-Buglé community.
FAO of the UN:
“This experience has also changed the way that us women see ourselves in the community. I have learned that not only men can do this type of work, but also that we women are capable of doing whatever we learn. Now we all work together as a big family.