Timaná is a municipality located in the South of Huila, Colombia, about a 180 km away from Neiva. Surrounded by the Central and Cordillera Central and Occidental ranges of the Colombian Andes, the area boasts good soils and high altitude - the perfect environment for growing speciality coffee.
In 2001, ASPROTIMANA was formed, standing for The Association of Timaná, in Spanish. Back when they were founded, they were a association of 32 farmers with a common goal to create socio-economic stability for coffee farming families in the region. Today, the association has grown to incorporate around 220 members, with Robinson Figueroa as the association’s general manager.
The farmers in the ASPROTIMANA association are trained to high-standards in agricultural practices – not only focussing productivity and quality, but also environmental sustainability. These traits make ASPROTIMANA an excellent partner in growing high-quality Colombia coffee, and Union has been working with the association since 2003. Asprotimana’s first cupping lab was donated by Union in 2003. Since then they have kept growing, focussing on quality and good agricultural practices. Expanding their facilities, improving their cupping lab and strengthening their organizational capacities focussing on youth. Now they have grown to an organization that strengthens the community and brings broader social change.
Asprotimana also supports women coffee farmers via The Women’s Group; this consists of 40 women who are provided with leadership and business training. As part of the training, they learn about roasting coffee for the local market, as well as preparation of drinks, desserts and sweets to build a café business. These women demonstrate to the world that women are more than capable of not only managing a farm, but truly succeeding in doing it. The association also has specific project to support young coffee farmers in the area, to ensure future for speciality coffee and enabling the next generation to make coffee farming a sustainable profession for them.
Speciality coffee has found a home in not only the farms surrounding Timaná, but also in the community of the farmers, with speciality coffee shop being built in the village - creating employment for local young people and displaying the delicious coffee which is grown in the area.
February 20, 2019
