Women Coffee Farmers are Gaining a New Lens on Life
A participatory photography method called Photovoice is allowing women coffee farmers in Peru to reflect on their journeys as leaders in their families and communities.
International Coffee Day, celebrated annually on October 1st, is more than just an ode to one of our favorite caffeinated beverages. It’s an opportunity to recognize the hardworking women and men who grow this popular crop. In Peru, a country renowned for its exceptional coffee, women are emerging as key players in the coffee industry.
Women in Coffee: Challenges and Opportunities
Women run approximately one-quarter of Peru’s coffee farms, but those farms are often less productive and profitable. They often face a complex web of challenges that hinder their success and limit their potential in the industry.
Key obstacles include limited land ownership and tenure rights, restricted access to financial services and credit, and barriers to agricultural training and education. They often struggle with market access and fair price negotiations, while balancing farm work with domestic responsibilities. Many women have limited decision-making power within their households and communities, and face difficulties accessing modern farming technologies and equipment.
TechnoServe Support Through Mujeres CAFÉ
TechnoServe’s Mujeres CAFÉ project is working with 1,300 women in coffee farming communities in the Peruvian regions of San Martín and Huánuco to develop their leadership and communications skills and take on a greater role in household and community decision-making. The project began in 2023 and is supported by the Starbucks Foundation.
Photovoice: Participatory Photography in Action
This year, sixty women from Mujeres CAFÉ continued their leadership journey through their participation in the Photovoice exercise, a participatory photography method that uses visual storytelling to capture insights and impact. Participants were given a camera and asked to reflect on their lives, communities, challenges, and achievements as coffee farmers and individuals and capture these in images.
After taking photographs, the women engaged in group discussions to analyze and interpret the images, sharing the stories behind them. This collaborative reflection process helped identify common themes and concerns within the community.
Several themes emerged from the images:
- Women’s relationship with nature, either as a source of inspiration and admiration or as a resource to protect and care for to ensure the future of their families and communities
- Women’s pride in their role as farmers and their contributions to coffee production
- Women as courageous, independent, and enterprising leaders
Women from Mujeres CAFÉ gather to see their images on display in Moyobamba, Peru.
The exercise also allowed participants to reflect on their journey toward autonomy, leadership, and effective decision-making. The combination of photography and storytelling allowed women of different literacy levels to actively participate, building their communication and public speaking skills.
“I thought I would always feel like this, humiliated in my home, unable to go out or participate,” shared Janet Livia Chuquipoma, a participant in the program. “I never imagined I could attend these workshops, share with friends, and learn so many things. Now I know that we women are strong, brave, and capable of achieving everything we set out to do.”
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