Matagalpa, Nicaragua

The Unión de Cooperativas Agosto Cesar Sandino, commonly known as the UCA San Ramón has emerged as CAN’s primary partner in Nicaragua.

In 2002, the UCA San Ramón began working with CAN’s research liaison to Nicaragua, Chris Bacon, on a project to evaluate effects of participation in Fair Trade and organic coffee markets. An agroecotourism project grew out of the participatory action research partnership with farmers, youth, and cooperative leaders involved in this project. This project’s goals were to provide an alternative revenue stream to small-scale farm families, create local jobs for rural youth and through this innovative process to improve livelihoods and conserve biodiversity. The second goal is to provide an intercultural educational experience to visitors.

                                     Papayas, a staple of the Nicaraguan diet.

CAN’s projects in Nicaragua have also included collaborations with el Central de Cooperativas Cafetaleras del Norte (CECOCFEN, RL), la Universidad Nacional Agraria (National Agrarian University) y Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua, el Centro para Economía Social, and SIMAS. In 2006, these and other organizations collaborated to host the International Short Course in Agroecology and Sustainable Rural Development.