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Instituto Salvadoreño del Café (ISC) has begun distributing foliar fertilizers to producers in the country’s six coffee-growing mountain ranges as part of efforts to protect crops during the bean-filling stage, which is considered critical for production. The products are designed to help plants reduce water stress caused by high temperatures and improve their resilience to weather conditions.
ISC President Mauricio Sansivirini explained that this support addresses the need to care for the crops during the most critical phase of the El Niño phenomenon. As he detailed, monitoring data show that coffee plantations require special attention during the bean-filling period, which is why a subsequent supply is also planned to promote the next flowering cycle.
In addition to distributing supplies, ISC technicians conduct training sessions to teach producers how to apply the products correctly and adopt practices that enable them to cope with climate variations. The assistance aims to help coffee farmers make appropriate decisions regarding the management of their farms during periods of high temperatures and low rainfall.
Among the recommendations made, protecting water resources stands out—specifically by maintaining the traditional agroforestry system and preserving shade on the plots. It is also recommended to build raised beds, a practice that helps capture water and reduce the impact of drought on plants, as well as to cover the soil with plant matter to conserve moisture.
The participating farmers appreciated both the provision of supplies and the technical support they received. Leandro Orellana, one of the participating farmers, noted that this assistance is a welcome help considering this year’s weather conditions and emphasized the importance of training on how to properly use the products provided.
Coffee grower Jaime Ortiz noted that the application of these supplements comes at an opportune time due to the lack of rain. He also highlighted the knowledge he gained during the workshop on water management, shade conservation, and selecting the most appropriate times to apply foliar products.
Through the Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería and Instituto Salvadoreño del Café the government continues to support producers to strengthen the coffee industry’s ability to respond to climate challenges. The distribution of supplies and on-site training aim to contribute to the resilience and sustainability of coffee production nationwide.
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