b'TOP RIGHTBefore a batch of cardamom is purchased by Nueva Kerala, a random sample of the grains is taken and tested to determine its overall quality.BOTTOM RIGHTTrays of cardamom are loaded on to a prototype dryer that was developed alongside Engineers Without Borders. These electricity- and gas-run dryers allow for more efficiency, and trays positioned in uniform rows standardize the heat and air flow.TOP LEFTLow cardamom prices start with saleNueva Kerala will provide farmers The traditionalnegotiations with intermediaries, an area wherewith access to new markets, enabling cardamom drying system reliesmany small-scale cardamom farmers struggle.them to increase their incomes, and on middlemenCardamom rots in as little as 12 hours if the or producersdrying process isnt initiated, so small-scalethe company will also create local arriving to the dryer with sacksfarmers often feel pressure to take the prices thatjobs that pay a living wage.of fresh greenare offered, even if they seem exceedingly low. cardamom as well as firewood.Compounding the problem is a lack of access to 4,000 hectaresreliable roads, transportation or equipment thatmanagement, and farmers are supported with of forest is usedcould be used to dry and sell cardamom for afinancial tools like lines of credit.as fuel each cardamomhigher price in town.Also crucial to the success of the program harvest season.Right now, most producers sell toare strong partnerships with international BOTTOM LEFT intermediaries, which is not bad because everybuyers and other spice industry players. On that Green cardamommarket needs intermediaries, said Ricardofront, Heifer Impact Capital invested in Nueva is weighed and loaded into theGonzlez, general manager of Nueva Kerala, aKerala, which buys, processes and distributes dryer drums. Thenew spice and distribution company Heifer co- cardamom, cinnamon, allspice and black pepper drying processfounded, which is based in Cobn, the capitalgrown from local farmers and sells those spices is labor intensive and takes aboutof Alta Verapaz. What happens is that the chaindirectly to importers around the world.a day and a halfof intermediaries is so large that the value theNueva Kerala will provide farmers with to be completed. Traditional dryersproducer actually receives is very low comparedaccess to new markets, enabling them to like this one areto what the people at the end of the chain receive. increase their incomes, and the company will not automatedSince 2012, Heifer Guatemala has beenalso create local jobs that pay a living wage.instead, the cardamom isworking with cardamom producers to bridge theOnce Nueva Kerala is financially independent, agitated, and theliving income gap. The team provides producersHeifer Impact Capital plans to transition its 49% heat of the fire is controlled bywith education and training in topics rangingequity stake to farmers through well-established hand.from improving cardamom yields to businessassociations and cooperatives.14| SUMMER 2021 HEIFER.ORG |15'