Ainer’s Work to Keep Coffee Farming Alive

Ainer García wears many hats. As a promoter for Producers Direct, he helps farmers sell their produce, set up bio-gardens to improve nutrition, and find ways to make farming more profitable. He works with over 260 families across the highlands and midlands of Yamango, often travelling between communities to provide hands-on support.

“The life of a coffee producer is very tough,” says Ainer. “The producer sacrifices a lot because from the very beginning.”

“They have to create a nursery, obtain the seeds, germinate them, put them in little bags, take them to the fields, and start growing them, which takes up to two or three years to become a productive plant with good volume.”

Ainer’s work focuses on two key areas. Helping farmers sell their produce at better prices and ensuring they can grow nutritious food for their families. Through Farm Direct, he connects producers with buyers, ensuring they get a fairer deal. And with bio-gardens, he helps families grow their own vegetables, so they spend less and eat better.

“The producers have reduced anaemia in their children because they consume natural vegetables,”

“Before, they bought them from somewhere else without knowing what was in them. “In stores, they look beautiful on the outside, but sometimes they have chemicals on the inside,” he adds.

But money remains a challenge. Climate change is making coffee farming unpredictable. Wetter seasons bring disease, drier ones stunt growth. Pests, like crickets, destroy crops. It’s why many young people leave farming altogether, looking for more stable work in the city.

“Here, most of the youth migrate to the city,”

Ainer understands that first-hand. He has a young son and wants more opportunities for him.

“I want him to have choices,” he says. “If he chooses farming, I want it to be because it’s a good option, not just because it’s the only one.”

Ainer’s story shows how giving farmers the right tools and support means they can earn more, live better, and keep growing great coffee. That’s good news for them – and for anyone who wants to keep drinking it.

Hear from the people behind your coffee

Meet some of the people who grow our coffee and hear, in their own words, about farming, family, community and the future of coffee.