Mercy Corps and Twinings Conclude Partnership Supporting Cardamom Producers in Guatemala

After six impactful years, Twinings’ partnership with international NGO, Mercy Corps, which aimed to improve the livelihoods of cardamom producers in Alta Verapaz, Guatemala, has concluded successfully.

Cardamom is one of Guatamala’s most important crops, and its harvesting depends on the work of smallholder farmers who consistently face challenges, including climate change and environmental degradation.  Cardamom thrives in shade, yet in many growing regions, forests have been cleared over generations, exposing crops to heat stress and reducing long-term viability.

To address these challenges, this joint initiative included supporting farmers to plant shade-providing trees, diversify their crop by interplanting cinnamon and cloves, improve pest management and switch to propane gas dryers to help reduce wood use and deforestation. Since 2020, 862 farmers have been trained in agroforestry, combining cardamom plants with other, more commercial trees, preserving 1.5 hectares of forest annually.  The Association of Organic Producers (ASODEPO) was also established during the partnership and now manages over $398,000 in development funds and supports more than 100 communities.

Our programme was split into three phases, and responding directly to issues including COVID-19, political unrest, tropical storms, and severe drought, consistently expanding its reach.

Phase One (2019 – 2022): Foundation Building

·        We supported 566 producers, 45% of whom are women, by establishing 16 agricultural committees, training 86 promoters, and creating three nurseries and 30 agroforestry systems.

·        Key achievements included certifying 143 producers as organic, improving market access, forming ASODEPO, and generating Q2.1M in savings through 17 savings and loan groups, while introducing propane dryers to reduce deforestation and enhance product quality.

Phase Two (2022-2024): Scaling Production, Sustainability, and Community Well-being

·        Support was extended to an additional 877 families in 18 communities, benefiting nearly 4,000 people, with ASODEPO securing Q2.78M for processing infrastructure.

·        Achievements included doubling yields, 24.6% income growth, installation of four propane dryers, expansion to 291 agroforestry systems, certification of 429.86 ha as organic, and significant improvements in household well-being and child protection.

Phase Three (2024–2025): Consolidation and Long-Term Sustainability

·        In the final phase, we solidified ASODEPO as a self-sustaining association of 120 producers, securing $398,867 in funding and building a modern gas-drying centre.

·        Achievements included forming five technical commissions, expanding drying capacity, forging new market alliances, diversifying crops, capturing CO₂ for carbon credits, and significantly improving diet diversity and reducing child labour.

Our collaboration with Mercy Corps underlines the power of community-led development and strategic partnerships, demonstrating the potential for sustainable growth and resilience in even the most challenging environments.