In partnership with local public, private and cooperative organizations, NCBA CLUSA signed ten Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) last fall to work to stem the losses from coffee rust. The organizations included exporters, quality experts, local coffee co-ops and others interested in supporting the sector in El Salvadaor.

“Our project will not make political or economic distinctions when giving support to growers. We will work with anyone willing to face and overcome this crisis of the coffee sector in El Salvador,” said Stanley Kuehn, NCBA CLUSA’s project Chief of Party, during his opening remarks at the MOU signing ceremony. “We cannot allow coffee to lose the quality that has characterized El Salvador for so many years.”

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“This commitment to the environment encourages us to promote organic practices for crops. We will work to ensure that growers learn to incorporate environmentally friendly practices through the manufacture and use of organic inputs in their farms,” Kuehn said. After the ceremony, attendees were invited to tour the organic input factory of Las Lajas cooperative to see first hand some of the best practices in organic processing.

Also in attendance were Miguel Herrera, USDA representative in El Salvador, and Orestes Ortez, El Salvador’s Minister of Agriculture and Livestock as well as current partners including Banco Hipotecario and CENTA-Café, with which NCBA CLUSA is currently working in order to build partnerships for the benefit of the sector.

Minister Ortez also addressed the event attendants and committed to working hand-in-hand with NCBA CLUSA in order to join efforts and continue supporting growers across the country. Working with the private sector, government and international partners, the El Salvador coffee sector has real potential to bounce back.