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Supporting future leaders in coffee production

24.07.2024 An invitation while visiting a Central American agricultural university provided an unexpected highlight for a BFH-HAFL student.

Master’s student and International Agriculture assistant Célia Bühler had a nice surprise while doing research in Honduras for her thesis.

During a five-day trip to meet with various actors in the Honduran coffee sector, Célia visited the Zamorano Pan-American Agricultural School near Tegucigalpa.

There, she was invited to help judge the group work of 30 students, from coffee-producing families, participating in the "Leadership for Youth in Agriculture: Young People Thrive" training programme run by Transformando Sistemas de Mercado and USAID.
 

Célia Bühler, back row, second from left, was called on to judge student presentations while visiting a Central American agricultural school. “It was a very nice experience,” she said.
Célia Bühler, back row, second from left, was called on to judge student presentations while visiting a Central American agricultural school. “It was a very nice experience,” she said.

Perfect timing to meet students

“This is the eighth batch of young people trained in this programme,” Célia said. “The theme was the lack of access to technical support and advisory services for coffee producers. The five groups had to develop a project idea to tackle this issue and finally pitch their ideas to a three-person jury.

“They were super knowledgeable, and it was very nice to connect with young people from coffee producing families. They know the challenges of the practice and could include this perspective in their proposed solutions. I made some valuable contacts for my thesis and beyond, and could ask them about the agricultural practices on their farms.

“They were curious about the research I am doing on compost with coffee by-products. It was inspiring to see how much energy, enthusiasm and motivation they have to work in the coffee sector and that they see a future in it. And as a member of YPARD, I’m always happy to see young people being supported and connecting with each other.”
 

The presentation from the winning team “Direct Coffee”. The 30 Honduran students, from coffee-producing families, were split into five groups to develop innovative solutions regarding the lack of extension and technical services in the coffee sector.
The presentation from the winning team “Direct Coffee”. The 30 Honduran students, from coffee-producing families, were split into five groups to develop innovative solutions regarding the lack of extension and technical services in the coffee sector.

Coffee sector focus

Beyond the competition, Célia’s visit to Zamorano included meetings with several professors and a tour of the campus. During the five days, she also met with colleagues from Swisscontact and coffee producers at Café Miraflores in Marcala, a business run entirely by women coffee producers.

“I’m doing it all in the context of my master’s thesis research in Nicaragua,” she said. “All of it is possible thanks to the great support of HAFL research associate Ingrid Fromm – without her, none of this would have happened.”

Célia’s master’s thesis is currently titled “Development of a concept for recycling organic waste from a coffee factory in Nicaragua through composting”. She returns to HAFL in early September.
 

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Text by Angela Wade. 

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Subject area: International agriculture and rural development
Category: International