Taking too long? Close loading screen.

 

 

 

 

 

February 18, 2021      5 Minute Read


Guiding Farms in the Right Direction / Guiando a las Fincas en la Dirección Correcta

Alieth Polo

Regional PECA and Sustainability Director

TAGS

Growing coffee is a farming tradition with centuries of history. Most producers nowadays grow coffee thanks to the legacy of knowledge and experience passed on to them through their parents, grandparents, great grandparents and beyond. For today’s producers, coffee cultivation means practicing what they learned from their family, as well as incorporating advice and techniques from their neighbors and peers.

Throughout the year, our team of PECA educators visit coffee growing families across Latin America to understand their needs and offer them education to best manage their farms. During these visits, we often encounter one particularly big challenge: Most small-holder farmers don’t keep track of the activities carried out on their farms and have no tools to properly manage their farms in an efficient way.
As a result, many coffee growers often don’t know how much coffee they will produce during the harvest or the exact cost of producing a kilo of coffee.

 

"my father taught me that if the flowerings were good, we knew they we would have a good production during harvest. however, i didn’t know when i was supposed to harvest or how to care for the trees before and after the harvest. i used to fertilize my coffee only when i could afford it, instead of figuring when was the right time to nurture my plants."
evelio zuñiga, palestina, huila (colombia).

"i had no schedule or calendar whatsoever for the activities i needed to carry out on the farm."
 
duberney cifuentes, planadas, tolima (colombia)

"i usually fertilize based on how the trees looked, combined with favorable weather conditions."
 
orlando lemus, la plata, huila (colombia)

Additionally, they don’t feel empowered enough to make decisions and take actions that prevent or mitigate diseases and other hazards which could affect the quality or volume of their harvest.
For us at Caravela it’s crucial for coffee growers to have all the tools necessary to produce more and better coffee. For more than 20 years, we’ve been working on improving the lives of coffee growers through education, awareness, and higher prices. The surest way to guarantee better coffee for the world is through helping coffee growers know their farms, understand their harvest cycles, and have the tools to make informed, timely decisions for their businesses, just like the CEO of any other company. Coffee may have familiar stages of development, but every farm is unique, because every farm has different microclimates and altitudes. For this reason, our PECA team designed and developed the Coffee Compass.
The Development of the Compass

 

The Compass is a tool that allows coffee growers to organize, plan, register, and follow up their farm activities regardless of where they produce coffee. The Compas is comprised of two parts: the ACTIVITY PLANNER and a CALENDAR TO SCHEDULE ACTIVITIES. The activity planner has two wheels, the first one featuring the months of the year divided by weeks, and the second displaying all the agronomic tasks for disease and plague management and sustainability activities. Additionally, the compass has a calendar where coffee growers can document monthly activities. The tool was developed based on work from the different coffee research centers like Colombia’s CENICAFE, Costa Rica’s CATIE, Guatemala’s CEDICAFE of ANACAFÉ as well as key notes taken from the Colombian Coffee Grower Manual of CENICAFE. One of the foundations of this tool, besides the rigorous scientific research and our team’s know-how, was to consider first and foremost Latin American coffee growers' reality and needs. As such, the Coffee Compass does not require growers to have any formal agronomy training, much less Wi-Fi, batteries, or even electricity. It is a timeless tool that can be used by coffee growers harvest after harvest.

“ever since i received the compass in mid-2020, i’ve been able to understand all the activities that  i carry out on the farm during the year. most importantly, i’ve realized that most activities are a consequence of other activities and that all of them have their reason for being. in november and beginning of december of 2020, we had very good flowerings, so now i know that the harvest will come by mid-june and july.”
 

evelio zuñiga, palestina, huila (colombia)

“for me, this tool is like a clock. It helps me organize and understand my cultivation with accuracy.”
 

jesús orlando lemus, de la plata, huila.

The Coffee Compass is centered around the flowering dates on a farm, which dictate when producers must carry out critical processes and activities over the course of the year, up until harvest. Using only this basic information, coffee growers can identify the dates when they need to undertake the most critical duties on their farms, such as control pests and diseases, create fertilization plans, perform weed controls, as well as plan for harvest and post-harvest phases. We’ve also included other activities that are vital to specialty coffee production under sustainability parameters. With this tool, coffee growers can schedule critical activities such as maintenance of drying stations or wet mills, shade management, and a variety of other essential tasks.

The Coffee Compass was invented by Hector Calderón, a PECA educator in Colombia who came up with the idea of helping coffee growers better organize their farm activities with a practical, easy-to-use tool. The prototype was constructed using only a piece of paper, scissors, a ruler, and some colored pencils. The final design was then presented to some of our coffee growing partners, who provided enthusiastic feedback. We realized that this tool had real potential to improve coffee farming by training producers to manage their farms more efficiently. The development of the Coffee Compass would not have been possible without a generous donation from Taylors of Harrogate, who believed in the product and helped us manufacture 2,800 Compasses for distribution to coffee producers in Latin America.
 

Up to date, we have donated more than 2,000 units of the compass to coffee growing families that work with Caravela in the seven origins where we work.

“for me, the most important feature of this tool is that you’re able to keep precise and accurate registers of your farm, mainly so you don’t forget to carry out any of the activities and always know what you already did and what is still missing.”
 
reinel pérez, planadas, tolima (colombia)

"its very practical because based on the main flowering you can know when to start monitoring and controling plagues and diseases. it helps us make decisions on fertilizers also taking into account the cherry development stage. it indicates us when is the harvest peak for us to anticipate and get ready."
 
luis emilio gomez, dipilto, nueva segovia (nicaragua)

"following the compass, i fertilized in november because my flowerings were on september. now in january and february, i've been monitoring berry borer and in these days, we will do weed cleaning. everything based on the compass."
 
maria anelvis segura, huabal, jaen (peru)

We believe the Coffee Compass will be a game changer for farmers, guiding them to keep a more organized, productive, and profitable farm. Because in the end, it isn’t coffee that’s special; it’s the millions of growers whose hard work and passion yield a product that uplifts millions of people around the world.

We have available for sale a limited number of units for growers all over the world. With the incomes received, we will be able to donate more Compasses to small-scale farmers

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Was this interesting? Grab a coffee and pick another from the articles below

Agroforestry For the Planet: The Impact of Shade-Grown Coffee

Agroforestry For the Planet: The Impact of Shade-Grown Coffee

What Makes a B Corp a Different Kind of Business?

What Makes a B Corp a Different Kind of Business?

Sustainability: The Sextant of Our Navigation

Sustainability: The Sextant of Our Navigation

Taking Coffee Education Program to the Next Level

Taking Coffee Education Program to the Next Level

Learning from 2021 and Reflecting on the Future of Coffee

Learning from 2021 and Reflecting on the Future of Coffee

Cost Of Production Spotlight: Price Spikes ≠ Higher Incomes

Cost Of Production Spotlight: Price Spikes ≠ Higher Incomes

Receiving Coffee, Delivering Resilience

Receiving Coffee, Delivering Resilience

Recognizing Producers’ Commitment to Excellence in El Salvador

Recognizing Producers’ Commitment to Excellence in El Salvador

The Sum of Small Actions: PECA contributes to the reduction of GHG’s

The Sum of Small Actions: PECA contributes to the reduction of GHG’s

A Pivotal Moment for Specialty Coffee

A Pivotal Moment for Specialty Coffee

Long Distances, Long Histories: Getting Close to Coffee in Oaxaca

Long Distances, Long Histories: Getting Close to Coffee in Oaxaca

We are Best for the World 2021!

We are Best for the World 2021!

Transparent Teamwork with Local Cooperatives

Transparent Teamwork with Local Cooperatives

Planning Ahead: As bad as it sounds?

Planning Ahead: As bad as it sounds?

Growing and Thriving with Guatemalan Farmers

Growing and Thriving with Guatemalan Farmers

An Update on Colombia’s Ongoing Crisis

An Update on Colombia’s Ongoing Crisis

Mastering the Learning Loop in Peru

Mastering the Learning Loop in Peru

Supply Chain Hurricane: Weathering a perfect logistical storm in 2021

Supply Chain Hurricane: Weathering a perfect logistical storm in 2021

Making the Coffee World More Sustainable

Making the Coffee World More Sustainable

A Familiar Face Returns: William Ortiz at the helm of Colombia/Ecuador

A Familiar Face Returns: William Ortiz at the helm of Colombia/Ecuador

Cause and Effectiveness: Increasing Impact with the Sustainable Development Initiative

Cause and Effectiveness: Increasing Impact with the Sustainable Development Initiative

Shifting Calendars, Shifting Harvests

Shifting Calendars, Shifting Harvests

Third-Party Verification that Leads to Action

Third-Party Verification that Leads to Action

‘Milds’ Intrigue: The Price Quandry Facing Farmers

‘Milds’ Intrigue: The Price Quandry Facing Farmers

Guiding Farms in the Right Direction

Guiding Farms in the Right Direction

Our Best Coffee is Our People

Our Best Coffee is Our People

What’s Brewing in the Coffee Industry: Lessons Learned and What to Look Forward in 2021

What’s Brewing in the Coffee Industry: Lessons Learned and What to Look Forward in 2021

Why Add Yeast ?

Why Add Yeast ?

Polar Promise in Las Palmas: A Case Study of North Star’s El Salvador Origin Project

Polar Promise in Las Palmas: A Case Study of North Star’s El Salvador Origin Project

Peru 2020: Rising Up From Lockdown

Peru 2020: Rising Up From Lockdown

Traditional Varieties in Latin America

Traditional Varieties in Latin America

Ecuador 2020: Making Our Way in the Middle

Ecuador 2020: Making Our Way in the Middle

Climate Neutral Caravela 2025: Steady Steps Towards a More Sustainable Future

Climate Neutral Caravela 2025: Steady Steps Towards a More Sustainable Future

A Primer on Transparency + Traceability Part II

A Primer on Transparency + Traceability Part II

A Primer on Transparency + Traceability Part I

A Primer on Transparency + Traceability Part I

How to Create a Specialty Coffee Line to Attract Commercial Coffee Drinkers Into The Specialty Coffee World? Part II

How to Create a Specialty Coffee Line to Attract Commercial Coffee Drinkers Into The Specialty Coffee World? Part II

How to Create a Specialty Coffee Line to Attract Commercial Coffee Drinkers Into The Specialty Coffee World?

How to Create a Specialty Coffee Line to Attract Commercial Coffee Drinkers Into The Specialty Coffee World?

A Take on Long-standing Relationships: Hasbean and Pedro Claros

A Take on Long-standing Relationships: Hasbean and Pedro Claros

Futures Contracts: What, Why, How  Part Three: Futures 103 How Hedging Works

Futures Contracts: What, Why, How Part Three: Futures 103 How Hedging Works

Futures Contracts: What, Why, How Part Two: Futures 102

Futures Contracts: What, Why, How Part Two: Futures 102

Futures Contracts: What, Why, How Part One: Futures 101

Futures Contracts: What, Why, How Part One: Futures 101

Grade Expectations: Finding Versatility and Value in A and AA Coffees

Grade Expectations: Finding Versatility and Value in A and AA Coffees

A Presentation on Cost of Production In Latin America

A Presentation on Cost of Production In Latin America

Meso-American Producer Survey: The Pandemic Will Leave Long-Lasting Scars

Meso-American Producer Survey: The Pandemic Will Leave Long-Lasting Scars

Invisible Barriers for Moving Coffee

Invisible Barriers for Moving Coffee

Caravela at 20: The Journey is Only Getting Started

Caravela at 20: The Journey is Only Getting Started

Certifiably Awesome: Passion and Persistence Turn Promise into Parchment in Mexico

Certifiably Awesome: Passion and Persistence Turn Promise into Parchment in Mexico

Harvest Arrives, Along with a Pandemic

Harvest Arrives, Along with a Pandemic

Minga From Field To Filter: Coffee Reacts and Adapts to the Covid Era

Minga From Field To Filter: Coffee Reacts and Adapts to the Covid Era

Mother Nature Turns The Volume Down in Nicaragua

Mother Nature Turns The Volume Down in Nicaragua

LOTSA Potential: The Long-Term Supply Agreement as a Tool for Financial Stability and Building Relationships

LOTSA Potential: The Long-Term Supply Agreement as a Tool for Financial Stability and Building Relationships

Progress in a Picture-Perfect Coffee Setting

Progress in a Picture-Perfect Coffee Setting

The Price and Value of Consistency

The Price and Value of Consistency

Looking Back and Leaping Forward

Looking Back and Leaping Forward

Womxn-Powered Coffee: Why It Matters

Womxn-Powered Coffee: Why It Matters

Behind the Scenes in Peruvian Coffee

Behind the Scenes in Peruvian Coffee

Unpoppable Opportunities for the Future

Unpoppable Opportunities for the Future

Equipping the Equipo: Playing to win in Guatemala and El Salvador

Equipping the Equipo: Playing to win in Guatemala and El Salvador

Agronomy to Keep the Microlots Coming

Agronomy to Keep the Microlots Coming

Evolution in a Land of Revolution

Evolution in a Land of Revolution

Cupping as Meditation

Cupping as Meditation

Origin Revelations

Origin Revelations

Avoiding the Poverty Trap: Choosing Stories Instead of Emotional Marketing

Avoiding the Poverty Trap: Choosing Stories Instead of Emotional Marketing

I’ve Bean Everywhere, Man

I’ve Bean Everywhere, Man

Have Yourself a Mara Little Christmas

Have Yourself a Mara Little Christmas

All Roads Lead to Coffee

All Roads Lead to Coffee

How Coffee can Complement Food

How Coffee can Complement Food

Building Projects at Origin

Building Projects at Origin

Coffee: Culture or Business?

Coffee: Culture or Business?

Café: ¿Cultura o Negocio?

Café: ¿Cultura o Negocio?

A Study on Costs of Production in Latin America

A Study on Costs of Production in Latin America

Fermentation Experiments in Nicaragua – How We Managed to Go from RTB to AAA

Fermentation Experiments in Nicaragua – How We Managed to Go from RTB to AAA

Constantly Adapting to Change

Constantly Adapting to Change

Mind the Gap: A Growing Gray Area Between Market and Production

Mind the Gap: A Growing Gray Area Between Market and Production

Embracing Technology to Create New Pathways in Coffee

Embracing Technology to Create New Pathways in Coffee

Forward Contracting to Secure Quality, Quantity and Relationships

Forward Contracting to Secure Quality, Quantity and Relationships

Caravela Sponsors Seven Small-holder Coffee Producers to attend the Producer and Roaster Forum in Guatemala

Caravela Sponsors Seven Small-holder Coffee Producers to attend the Producer and Roaster Forum in Guatemala

Colombian Specialty Coffee Scene. A Perspective from Café Quindío

Colombian Specialty Coffee Scene. A Perspective from Café Quindío

Coffee Sampling  Increases Farmers Profitability Opportunities

Coffee Sampling Increases Farmers Profitability Opportunities

Caravela From a Newcomer’s View

Caravela From a Newcomer’s View

Water Activity: Predictive insights Changing Processes and Profits

Water Activity: Predictive insights Changing Processes and Profits

Blending Experience with Passion in Mesoamerica

Blending Experience with Passion in Mesoamerica

Coffee in Galapagos: Evolving To Thrive

Coffee in Galapagos: Evolving To Thrive

What Traceability Offers Farmers

What Traceability Offers Farmers

The Specialty Coffee Transaction Guide – Setting the Bar on Prices

The Specialty Coffee Transaction Guide – Setting the Bar on Prices

A Tale of Two Customers: Caravela Coffee and the Rethinking of the Coffee Import Model

A Tale of Two Customers: Caravela Coffee and the Rethinking of the Coffee Import Model

Arriving at a price

Arriving at a price

Rich Farmer, Poor Farmer

Rich Farmer, Poor Farmer

Low Prices, Risky Times

Low Prices, Risky Times

Making it Work as Well as it Can

Making it Work as Well as it Can

Discovering the Source

Discovering the Source

A Mutual Evolution: Caravela Nicaragua’s William Ortiz, on helping people grow coffee, and how coffee helps people grow

A Mutual Evolution: Caravela Nicaragua’s William Ortiz, on helping people grow coffee, and how coffee helps people grow

The High Price of Getting the Best from Ecuador

The High Price of Getting the Best from Ecuador

Victims of Exchanging Currencies – Who Should Take on this Risk?

Victims of Exchanging Currencies – Who Should Take on this Risk?

A Pilgrimage to the Future

A Pilgrimage to the Future

Why We’re Investing in World Coffee Research?

Why We’re Investing in World Coffee Research?

The Making of a Champion

The Making of a Champion

Peru, an Unpolished Diamond in Coffee Production

Peru, an Unpolished Diamond in Coffee Production

Investing in Education: Investing in People

Investing in Education: Investing in People

How Roasters Can Influence the Supply Chain

How Roasters Can Influence the Supply Chain

Aromas: More than Just a Coffee Competition

Aromas: More than Just a Coffee Competition

FOB vs. EXW – Two Buying/Shipping Methods for Your Green Coffee

FOB vs. EXW – Two Buying/Shipping Methods for Your Green Coffee

Sample Roasting vs. Profile Roasting

Sample Roasting vs. Profile Roasting

How to Keep Records of your Costs of Production?

How to Keep Records of your Costs of Production?

Why and How to Estimate Costs of Production in a Coffee Farm?

Why and How to Estimate Costs of Production in a Coffee Farm?

Supply Chain Logistics – The Clockwork of Coffee

Supply Chain Logistics – The Clockwork of Coffee

Forecasting Green Coffee Purchasing

Forecasting Green Coffee Purchasing

What is specialty Coffee

What is specialty Coffee

Drying in Peru: the Final Step in Quality Improvement

Drying in Peru: the Final Step in Quality Improvement

FOB vs: EXW – Two Buying/Shipping Methods for Your Green Coffee

FOB vs: EXW – Two Buying/Shipping Methods for Your Green Coffee

When is it time to harvest?

When is it time to harvest?

Just In Time Inventory

Just In Time Inventory

Spectrum Purchasing and How it Impacts Sustainability

Spectrum Purchasing and How it Impacts Sustainability

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Translate »

Pin It on Pinterest

Share

Share this content with your coffee community!