Women's cooperative Aprolma

Aprolma Cooperative (Asociación de Productoras Libres de Marcala) is located in Marcala Province, La Paz, in Central America, Honduras. The region has considerable experience in coffee cultivation. Furthermore, the cooperative implements collective quality development projects.
Aprolma grew out of one of the first Honduran women's cooperatives. Currently, 69 women are active members of the coop. They are producing coffee on their own land. As a rule, women cultivate one or two hectares. Coffee is produced organically and is organic-certified
Aprolma compañeras value their coffee's quality very highly, because it is the foundation of their independence and autonomy. In their view, the following four aspects are paramount:
1. Strengthening the organisation through continuous improvement of the production process.
2. Sustainable production resulting from more efficient utilisation of plantations implementing environment-friendly cultivation methods.
3. Direct action and practical solidarity, without intermediaries, to improve farmers' quality of life.
4. Collective infrastructure by intelligent use of available resources.
Their raw coffee is distinguished by its special quality, a fruitiness which is sporting an accompanying liveliness even in the darker brands – e.g. in our Las Chonas single-roasted coffee and espresso.

The political situation in Honduras
Honduras has experienced a long series of military coups and colonial exploitation. Generous political and economic conditions attracted capital-strong corporations like the United Fruit Company, which established huge plantations and helped create the proverbial 'banana republic'. Several dictators, backed by other countries, have represented international donors' interests. In 1954, Honduras placed its territory at the disposal of intervention forces overthrowing Guatemala's president. Additionally, the country has served as a beachhead and sanctuary for the Contras in the Nicaraguan civil war.
On June 28 2009, the president of Honduras was overthrown by a military coup. Consequently, the security situation has deteriorated dramatically. Well-known political activists like Berta Cáceres of the indigenous organisation Copinh have been murdered. An especially drastic increase in hate crimes against members of the LGBTI* community has occurred. Legal investigations into these crimes are rare. On the contrary, big corporations, political leaders and the military are participating frequently in murders and crimes against human rights. A climate of corruption, lawlessness and violence prevails. After the November 2017 elections, accusations of fraud and manipulation were raised. In the subsequent protests, at least 20 people have lost their lives and thousands have been arrested.

Self-organisation and political independence
Consequently, the women's co-op's everyday work is taking place under difficult political conditions. Aprolma's members are currently also facing new challenges like global warming and increasingly extreme weather conditions. They are spreading information about the consequences of these developments, such as declining agricultural yields or quality loss and rising poverty in rural populations, and developing active countermeasures. Additionally, they are continuing to organise against Honduras' patriarchal system and against blackmail and threats from armed groups co-operating with corrupt politicians and the military.
Moreover, compañeras' self-organisation and financial independence in the coffee trade still aren't accepted automatically by male compañeros. Therefore, collective work in the coop is not merely a way to advance emancipation and equal labour relations, but also a practical means of economic and political independence.