In Alcalabano, a district in the municipality of Guapotá, Santander, the air on Bertha Sandoval’s farm carries more than the scent of freshly ground coffee. You can hear the clucking of chickens, the grunting of well-fed pigs, and the rustling of dry leaves in the cocoa plantations. Surrounded by green mountains and long working days, Bertha has built a way of life centered on productive diversification – a strategy that has empowered her to manage her household, gain financial independence, and look to the future with confidence.
Bertha, 48, is one of 25 women participating in the project Caficultoras construyendo prosperidad (“Women Coffee Growers Building Prosperity”), an initiative led by Swisscontact and ECOM.
The project is funded by a renowned U.S. coffee company and the Colombia más Competitiva program of the Swiss Embassy in Colombia, through the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). In addition, ECOM contributes its own resources for technical assistance, operational inputs, and project management -further amplifying the initiative’s impact in the region.
The project aims to strengthen the emotional well-being and the personal and economic self-determination of its participants. To achieve this, women are provided with administrative and financial tools that help them expand their sources of income. In Bertha’s case, however, the impact goes far beyond coffee cultivation.
Bertha’s story reflects the reality of many women in Colombia: separated, widowed, or with absent husbands – suddenly and often without preparation, they found themselves responsible for running their farms.
In response, the project recognized the need to offer not only emotional support, but also practical tools to help increase productivity, improve farm management, and unlock new sources of income.
This insight laid the foundation for the project’s diversification component. As Angélica Luna, Business Services Specialist at Swisscontact, explains, the initial assessment revealed that participating women earned an average monthly income of just COP 1,038,000 (approx. USD 267) – far below the estimated living income for women coffee farmers in 2024, which, according to Uncar Research and Fairtrade, should be around COP 2,295,000 (approx. USD 590). This income gap of over COP 1,200,000 (approx. USD 309) prompted the development of additional production units alongside coffee farming – tailored to each woman’s interests, skills, and experience.
With technical support, each of the 25 women coffee farmers created a personalized investment plan to launch at least one new production line on their farm. Bertha chose pig farming. With COP 3,000,000 (approx. USD 772) in start-up capital provided in August through the project – managed by Swisscontact and its partners – she is able to cover feed, vitamins, and veterinary care for six pigs, which she supplies herself. In four months, Bertha expects a net profit of COP 600,000 to 700,000 (approx. USD 154 to 180), which she plans to reinvest to further grow her business.
In addition to financial support, the project offers technical and educational assistance. Angélica Luna visits the farms every two months, introduces a business management handbook for the new production units, and guides the women through key processes such as inventory control, profitability analysis, and forecasting. To further strengthen financial literacy, partnerships have been established with Fundación Capital and Fundación Bancolombia, offering courses on saving, expense management, and tracking weekly income.
“My goal is to keep at least ten well-cared-for pigs and sell them at a good price. Everything legal, everything clean – that's how you can grow,“ says Bertha proudly.
In recent months, the coffee farmers have further expanded their skills in the areas of management and economic sustainability. As part of the financial education course ‘Cuentas sin Cuento’, which was conducted in collaboration with Fundación Libertad, Fundación Bancolombia and EAFIT University, they learned how to record their income and expenses, plan investments and forecast the profitability of their production units.
At the same time, other participants chose to diversify into areas such as laying hens, broiler chickens, fish farming, tree nurseries, soap making, artisanal yoghurt production, and even small village shops.
Each new venture was built on a contribution from the woman herself – whether through infrastructure, resources, or labor – and always with a focus on sustainability and independence.
For example, chicken farms receive 50 laying hens aged 16 weeks, along with feed troughs, hygiene kits, feed and fencing for the coop. The production cycle lasts 15 months, with estimated monthly revenues of between COP 160,000 and COP 170,000 (approx. USD 43), which can be increased by producing their own feed.
“A diversified agricultural business not only ensures more stable income, but also empowers women to make decisions independently,“ explains Amalia Muñoz, Director of Sustainability at ECOM Colombia.
“Economic empowerment cannot move forward unless emotional well-being comes first. But when women begin to heal, they make decisions that transform their lives and their farms,” says Sandra, the project’s psychologist. She guides the emotional healing processes that are a prerequisite for accessing start-up capital. Participation in workshops, group meetings, and the completion of technical tasks are part of the commitment each beneficiary makes within the project.
Today, Bertha not only runs her own farm – she also inspires other women in her community. She is living proof that diversification is not an additional burden, but a strategic opportunity. With every egg sold, with every piglet raised, she affirms her right to a dignified life and a fairer rural economy.
“I've learned that you don't have to carry everything on your own. That it's okay to ask for help, to talk, to heal... but also that you can move forward with organisation and a lot of willpower,“ she says.
The Caficultoras construyendo prosperidad project continues its work in the regions of Santander and Boyacá, promoting agricultural models where women play a central role – and where diversification is synonymous with resilience.
Bertha Sandoval’s story invites us to rethink rural development.
In a country where coffee cultivation faces deep structural challenges, promoting income diversification, empowering women, and offering holistic support is not just good practice – it’s a necessity.
As Bertha sums it up while reviewing her monthly accounts: