Coffee and Diversification in Mesoamerica

In collaboration with a smallholder union of cooperatives in northern Nicaragua, researchers conducted a community-based participatory action research (CB-PAR) and a mixed methods study centered on agroecology and diversification practices in relation to food security, coffee production, and gender. The findings indicate that there is a positive correlation between agricultural diversity and household dietary diversity; further, the majority of diversification activities began through the farmers’ own initiative. Moreover, women are less likely to attend agricultural trainings and more likely to experience food insecurity. As such, cooperatives should take more initiative in motivating women to participate in diversification and agricultural workshops.