Rainbow-COMUS Sustainable Coffee

Results achieved as of the end of the project (June 2017) include: (1) 6 544 seedlings representing 40 different varieties of fruit/wood trees along with seeds of vegetables herbs and medicinal plants were distributed to 173 producers (68 women 105 men) based on their farms plans; (2) the existing central nursery has been upgraded; (3) five community nurseries were established each one producing well over 5 000 rust-resistant coffee seedlings; (4) a total of 208 095 rust-resistant coffee seedlings have been distributed; (5) all surveyed producers from the end line study (28 men 20 women) who received crop diversification and improved income material consistently stated that the resources and training received has increased their family diet and allowed them to incorporate fruit trees in their coffee production; (6) all surveyed producers indicated that they were still using the sustainable production methods learned (compost/organic pest control and soil conservation) through the 33 workshops held for 243 people (68 women 144 men 19 girls and 12 boys); (7) a COMUS Gender Policy was completed and applied and most of surveyed community members indicated that gender awareness has been improved as a result; (8) the COMUS' Board of Directors feels that the project improved it’s organizational and infrastructure capacity by the strengthening of its business plan; (9) the sales of processed coffee beans has increased (total sales of US$234 562 over the course of the project or US$47 000 per year compared to US$9 173 in 2011); (10) the environmental performance of the coffee plants was improved with increased rain-water harvesting the construction of a water treatment plan and composting of by-products; and (11) all surveyed producers felt their food security had improved as a consequence of this project.