Mother’s Roles in Coffee Farming Communities | Honoring Coffee by Women and the International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026
by Aliisa Oake
In an incredibly vast industry, coffee by women is becoming more popular - especially in the past few years. But what’s involved in the behind-the-scenes of women’s participation in the coffee industry? What impact does supporting women in coffee have on their families and their coffee farming communities in Guatemala?
Globally, women make up nearly half of the agricultural workforce, but continue to face productivity gaps of up to 24%. In the coffee sector, women represent about 70% of the labor involved in coffee cultivation. Despite their contributions, they often face many inequalities including lower wages, limited access to land ownership, and barriers to resources, training, and financial support. 2026 has been proclaimed as an important year devoted towards expediting a change — taking action to close gender gaps and improve the livelihoods of women in agriculture on a global level.
As announced earlier this year by the FAO, 2026 has been declared as the International Year of the Woman Farmer — marking a transformative change. This declaration is an incredible success for women in agriculture and marks a turning point for the future of their involvement in the industry. By proclaiming the IYWF 2026, the FAO aims to raise awareness of the vital, but overlooked role of women in agrifood systems and the main challenges they face, while promoting and encouraging others to take part in the movement. In the face of adversity, the IYWF encourages women in agriculture around the world, while raising awareness of their essential, yet often overlooked, labor and dedication.
Woman coffee producer, mother, and member of Shigualos Cooperative
The goals through the announcement of 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer are clear. De La Gente’s work is rooted in supporting small-scale coffee producers and breaking barriers — one of them being standing alongside and creating more opportunities for women coffee producers. For us at De La Gente, this year marks a global effort to amplify the voices of women in coffee as we work towards creating a more equitable future for them. Additionally, with Mother’s Day taking place in May, this recognition is incredibly meaningful. We’re building the impact of the IYWF by highlighting the roles of mothers in coffee farming communities — raising awareness of the unique value they carry as coffee producers and caregivers.
Balancing Mother’s Roles with Coffee Cultivation in Coffee Farming Communities in Guatemala
Mother’s Day is a special celebration — a time to recognize the admiration, care, and dedication that defines a mother’s role. It’s a moment to reflect on the foundation they create within their homes, serving as pillars of strength for their families. As we honor mothers around the world, we’d like to spotlight all of the mothers who are also vital contributors in the agricultural landscape. Your work — both as women in agriculture and as mothers — is deeply valued and appreciated as you shape your families and the future of your communities.
The strength of a mother is like no other, especially in coffee farming communities.
Balancing mother’s roles with coffee cultivation in Guatemala’s coffee farming communities — Pictured is Esmeralda from La Suiza Cooperative
Mothers in the coffee industry have a constantly fluctuating role, though obligations remain steady. In our work with coffee farming communities in Guatemala, we’ve seen the balance involved in the daily life of women in coffee as they raise their children and fulfill the many roles expected of them. Each day begins and ends with care the sustains the well-being of her family, the quality of each coffee harvest, and the future of her community. Mother’s roles in their households and in their coffee fields consist of tasks completed with intention and influenced by necessity, where responsibilities are dedicated to the upbringing of their children and the many steps involved in coffee production. Essentially, they form the foundation of their homes and shape the productivity of their farms.
Illuminating the Voices of Women in Coffee, Featuring De La Gente’s Women-Run Partner Cooperative
Despite the many challenges faced by mothers in coffee, these women display an extraordinary sense of resilience as they strive to provide the best for their children even when being faced with challenging socioeconomic conditions and unequal treatment in the coffee industry. Much of the success of each harvest lies in the hands of women in coffee, although they struggle to receive this acknowledgment.
Yet they still show up and persevere.
Women in coffee are actively involved in quality control and post-harvest management. Their participation spans from every stage in the cultivation process, from planting and harvesting to sorting and processing — each stage being essential to the outcome of the quality of the final cup. Women are often responsible for picking coffee cherries during the harvest, as this work is classified as seasonal or part-time. Coffee harvest responsibilities also rely on the precision and care required to select only the ripest cherries, which is a task where women’s attention to detail is highly valued. Coffee is innately produced by women— yet they don’t have the same access to resources like land, financing, technology, or training, which limits their ability to obtain more opportunities in the industry.
To better understand the impact of women’s roles in coffee cultivation, it’s important to recognize the range of responsibilities they carry and the barriers they often face. To uncover what it takes for women in coffee to success in a traditionally male-dominated industry and how they are reshaping the value of their work, continue reading about the challenges and obstacles they navigate in our previous blog — Rising Together | The Women Caficultora Network is Accelerating Change. This blog honors the radical movement being made by our women-run partner cooperative, The Women Caficultora Network, and how they’re accelerating action in their coffee farming community in the Antigua coffee growing region of Guatemala.
Members of De La Gente’s women-led partner cooperative — Women Caficultora Network
Coffee by Women: A Pathway For Transformation
Investing in coffee by women holds more meaning and impact than it initially sounds. When women in coffee are supported equally and recognized for their work, it opens the doors to greater opportunities, access to more resources, and stronger participation in decision-making. In turn, this investment creates pathways for transformation within rural farming communities in Guatemala, where increased economic stability supports healthier families, expanded access to education, and empowers future generations — fostering long-term community growth.
Celebrating coffee by women and the International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026 | Pictured is Juana from APCASA cooperative
A stronger, more resilient coffee industry is built on the people at its origin, the partners we work alongside, and the long-term relationships we create. Ultimately, by supporting the International Year of the Woman Farmer, we’re strengthening our efforts in creating more opportunities for and amplifying the awareness of women coffee producers as they change the landscape of the coffee industry in Guatemala. By advocating for and supporting coffee by women, we’d like to make it clear that this isn’t a buzzword. We’re actively using our resources to create a more inclusive industry for women and increase their participation in every stage of the coffee cultivation process. We’re amplifying their voices and supporting the women we work with by sharing their stories of resilience, excellence, and hard work.
2026 marks a powerful opportunity to increase our efforts in creating a more inclusive and equitable future for women in agriculture while strengthening leadership and expanding the participation of women farmers and organizations. It’s a moment to deepen collaboration across sectors, amplifying the work of those committed to supporting women in agriculture globally. As the momentum towards changing the agricultural landscape for women builds, one thing has been clear for us — women aren’t participating in Guatemala’s coffee sector, they are driving its future and changing the value associated with coffee by women.
