From Day Laborer to Leader: Inside a Thriving Nicaraguan Coffee Farm
Manuel Herrera saw early on how coffee could transform his life. His thriving coffee farm is helping Manuel build a better life for his family.
A Better Future on a Nicaraguan Coffee Farm
Manuel Arnulfo Herrera, a successful coffee farmer in Nicaragua’s Mataglapa region, is proud of the life he has built. Together with his wife Carla Torres, Manuel worked hard to establish a flourishing coffee farm and create a beautiful family home.
The previous one was in bad shape,” said Manuel. “Now I have a house with two large bedrooms, a living room, kitchen, dining area, and a porch. All of this, thanks to coffee.”
Manuel has come a long way from his start as a day laborer on a coffee farm at just 17. Even then, Manuel dreamed of owning his own land. He saw how coffee created opportunities for those who cultivated it and realized early on that this crop was not only economically important for Nicaragua, but could also be a path to change his life and that of his family. He worked hard to secure a loan that allowed him to buy his own coffee farm.
How Training Transformed Manuel’s Coffee Yield
Manuel owes his success to hard work, perseverance, and the power of knowledge.
Driven by the desire to increase coffee yields, he joined a TechnoServe training program designed to equip smallholder coffee farmers with the skills to improve their incomes, strengthen climate resilience, and adopt more sustainable farming practices.
Through the program, Manuel learned about integrated pest and disease management, pruning, and shade management. He also gained valuable knowledge on fertilization, particularly the use of biofertilizers.
He applied these new skills to the farm with astounding results: yields increased from 20 quintales (907 kg) of wet parchment coffee per hectare to 60 quintals (2,722 kg) of washed coffee—an impressive 200% gain.
“Now my coffee beans are larger and heavier,” he said.
While in past harvests he sold a hundred pounds for $71, he has now been able to get up to $79. Depending on market conditions, this premium gave Manuel a much healthier profit margin — earning around $480 more for his 60 quintals of coffee.
Why Nicaraguan Coffee Farms Matter to the World
According to World Coffee Research, Nicaragua is the 12th largest exporter of coffee, an estimated 50% of which is grown by smallholder farmers like Manuel.
Coffee thrives in the country’s northern highland regions of Jinotega, Matagalpa, and Nueva Segovia.
But smallholder farmers in Nicaragua cannot always rely on coffee for a stable, livable income. They must contend with aging trees that bear less fruit, plant diseases like coffee leaf rust, pests like coffee berry borer, and the unpredictable impacts of climate change.
When yields fall, incomes decline. Farmers are left with even fewer resources to rehabilitate and renovate their farms through actions like replacing old trees with healthier varieties. This cycle often pushes them deeper into poverty.
TechnoServe’s work in the region addressed these barriers by supporting farmers directly through training programs and building the broader systems they depend on. We facilitated access to finance, provided high-quality coffee seedlings through local nurseries, and supported research to develop more resilient coffee varieties. We also linked farmers to higher-value markets, helping them earn better prices and reinvest in their farms for long-term growth.
Helping Farmers Build a Better Future Through Coffee
You might assume that coffee’s global popularity translates into prosperity for those who grow it. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. An estimated 5.5 million coffee-farming families still live in poverty because of factors like small farm sizes, market volatility, and the effects of climate change.
In 2009, TechnoServe launched our first coffee training programs in Rwanda, Kenya, and Tanzania. Since then, we’ve expanded coffee training across 13 countries in Africa and Latin America, helping farmers adopt better agronomic practices, connect with buyers, and adapt to a changing climate.
This year, we are proud to have trained a million coffee farmers like Manuel. He is one in a million— a graduate from TechnoServe coffee training who now produces higher-quality coffee while protecting his land for future generations.
His journey reflects what’s possible when farmers are equipped with the right tools and knowledge: sustainable coffee, stronger communities, and paths to a better future.
FAQs
What’s on your mind?
Where is coffee grown in Nicaragua?
Nicaragua’s coffee is grown in the northern highlands of the country, which is characterized by rich, volcanic soil that is ideal for growing high-quality Arabica coffee.
How does TechnoServe support local farmers?
TechnoServe supports farmers directly through training and systemwide improvements—facilitating access to finance, high-quality seedlings, and research on resilient coffee plant strains, while linking them to higher-value markets that boost incomes and long-term growth.
