WE ARE A NATION OF PEACE
WE ARE THE FUTURE
Address by Coffee Producer, Urania Liseth Hernández,
President of the Union of Agricultural
and Livestock Cooperatives SOPESCA, Jinotega
at the Opening Ceremony of the Protection and Security Plan
for the 2026-2027 Coffee Harvest
Apanás, Jinotega
October 24th, 2026
It is an honor and a privilege for me to address you on this beautiful morning, representing the producers of the Department with the highest coffee production in Nicaragua, namely our beloved Jinotega.
At this Ceremony, we greet with the affection and fraternal appreciation of always the Head of the Military Forces of the Nicaraguan Army, Army General Julio César Avilés Castillo, his High Command and the Military Council. Chancellor Valdrack Jaentschke; Compañero Ovidio Reyes, President of the Central Bank; Ministers and Cabinet of Production, Consumption and Trade; First Commissioner Francisco Javier Díaz Madriz; Colonel Rodolfo Antonio González, Head of the 6th Regional Military Command; Departmental and Municipal Authorities; Parish Priest Santiago Rafael Ríos Gadea; Social Media, Producers, Merchants, Shippers, Traders, Exporters; distinguished soldiers of our People and others gathered here today.
Infinite greetings and thanks, to the Presidency of the Republic, to Co-President Comandante Daniel Ortega Saavedra and to Co-President Compañera, Rosario Murillo Zambrana; for the support that they always give the Coffee Sector during the harvest season, as well as for allowing us through this Government model, to meet, together and united, small, medium and large coffee producers, exporters, national, departmental and municipal authorities, military and police forces in order to all together contribute to the National Economy, through our coffee harvest.
Nicaraguan Women play an important role in the country’s development and we have also joined in the defense of the Nation, following the example of our heroine Blanca Arauz, many Women joined the Revolutionary Struggle and many are also integrated into the Army today. I would also like to highlight that, as women we contribute to the National Economy in all productive areas. The commitment and courage of us women are the heart of our rural communities, which are the guardians of our lands and as well as our tireless work in the home, we are also fundamental for the food security and well-being of our families.
That is why I take this opportunity to congratulate in this wonderful event all the women of our rural areas, for having celebrated last October 15th the International Day of Rural Women, for whem I request a loud applause.
We started this harvest with favorable conditions, the news of the international price of coffee is reassuring, they have been in a range of US$380 to US$410 this month, so as producers we are happy and we hope prices stay that way, since this favors the entire chain involved in this coffee industry, may God continue blessing us all, always!
On behalf of Jinotega’s small and medium producers, of the cooperative and large coffee growers, I want to express that we feel extremely grateful for the permanent support of the Army, through decurity in the countryside, which guarantees us the stability and tranquility necessary to increase production and to be able to work in Peace.
We recognize that the atmosphere of Peace and Security we live and breathe in this territory is the result of the relevant and outstanding work carried out by our soldiers in the different communities covering the coffee routes, the collection centers, the transfers of value for farms, communities, along our roads and highways.
Today once again, on behalf of the producers of all the coffee growing municipalities of Jinotega, we are making clear demonstrating our full support for the Presidency of the Republic and the People's Army, which fulfills its missions and tasks for the welfare of our patriotic Nation. The proof of this can be clearly noted when we see that no coffee producer finds it difficult to get their harvest in even from the very last corner of our mountains.
We also recognize that free medical services exist in every coffee-growing community, thanks to the efforts of our Government, as well as all the efforts of workers and producers out in the fields. It is also a privilege that no child from our communities has been left without being able to enter our educational centers, while thousands of young people from our coffee-growing area are preparing as the future coffee-growing generation, our rural housing has been improving every day and these are realities along with many more achievements, which allow us to live in Peace where we are not exposed to crime which might threatens the social and economic development of our communities.
We recognize and congratulate our Nicaraguan Army, for the great work it does in the field, crime has practically disappeared.
General Avilés, here in our Department we can travel by day and by night on our roads, thanks to this Peace that has been built and we recognize that there are no kidnappings of producers here, nor are there assaults.
We continue to invest in our farms, which allows us to continue increasing production, improving family incomes and the quality of life in our homes. We are very proud of all this and we share this pride with our Army.
I congratulate you for the work you have done maintaining communication with coffee producers through the different assemblies that we have held in the different Communities, the patience that you have had with us in reaching solutions to our problems, so we request that the presence of our Army in rural areas be continuous and permanent.
I want to express to you in all certainty, that when soldiers are patrolling our coffee growing areas, it means total assurance for us producers, we don’t even have the dogs bark at night.
With you, Brother and Sister soldiers, worker and peasant children who make up this People's Army, rest assured that we will work hard on our farms and in our cooperatives for many years, for the rest of our lives, for future generations, until we end all the Poverty in our country once and for all.
And in this harvest year, our greatest commitment together with you in our department of Jinotega, is not to allow any criminal activity to threaten the economy of our producers.
As coffee growers from Jinotega, we continue to be committed to developing and investing in our coffee plantations. We still have a lot to do, there are thousands of acres that need renovation with better varieties, there are many areas where the climate is already changing, which demands that we introduce new technology, improve the control and quality of our coffee and above all, organize better as producers, to improve access to local and international markets.
Strengthening and developing our organizational capacity in production, will allow us to participate in all the productive chains and to be active in generating contributions and proposals to the Agenda for the development of a sustainable coffee culture.
We recognize the efforts made by our Government in the implementation of policies and strategies for coffee farming and we hope that spaces for consultation with the coffee sector will be created so as to evaluate this sector’s activity, because we hope that coffee farming can be seen as a challenge, a transformation for the 20 years ahead so that we can continue to grow this product.
The harvest has already started, we are working in the lower areas, we are preparing the organization of the labor force during the harvest, it is a great opportunity to improve the income of the workers, in our farms and drying plants. We think this year we will be finishing the coffee harvest in the lower areas in February and in the higher areas in the first days of March.
Brother and Sister Producers, we have an immense responsibility, just as we have united with our Army to bring Security to rural areas we must also unite to be able to conserve and protect the natural resources we have on our farms, we must live in harmony with the environment, allowing sustainable and balanced development, always protecting our beloved land, and of course also taking care of all our water sources in this positive situation.
Our efforts for this year will continue to be to maintain the target of three million sacks of coffee, although our dream is to reach more than five million sacks, because the conditions and the capacities are there, it is only necessary to strengthen investment for producers so that over the next five years we can reach those production levels.
We recognize and congratulate our Government for the progress and development in our seaports, both in the Atlantic and in the Pacific, so as to be able to export our Coffee. This level of development will make it easier for us to carry out the export registration procedures and phytosanitary controls from our region, which will allow great savings for our exports. I also want to recognize the immense work carried out by our Institute for Plant Protection and Animal Health (IPSA), who have also been guarantors of bringing traceability, control and quality for our coffee to different destinations around the world.
Security in rural areas has also allowed us to carry out a systematic improvement in the quality of our coffee, now that thousands of producers are being trained in quality control, in crop management and taking part in the Cup of Excellence competition.
We are also grateful for the great work our Army carries out protecting coffee-growing areas in times of emergencies and natural disasters.
I have been entrusted to convey to you on behalf of the Coffee Drying Plants, recognition for the work of our Army in Security and Protection, because this support has made it possible for these industrial plants to operate at full capacity in the drying and storage of every coffee harvest.
I want to reiterate General Avilés, in representation of the thousands of children from the coffee growing communities who study and live in Peace, and on behalf of the thousands of farm workers, producers and our People in general, our appreciation, affection and support to you and all your Soldiers, for always accompanying us patrolling and guarding our farms, roads and highways, giving us the permanent Security and tranquility, which we deserve as dignified Nicaraguans. We are proud to have an Army which is the heir of the Army In Defense of National Sovereignty of Our General of Generals, Augusto C. Sandino.
Congratulations on the 47th Anniversary of your Foundation... May God bless and protect you today, tomorrow and always!
Long live Jinotega’s Coffee Producers!
Viva, Viva, Viva!
Long live Nicaragua!
Viva, Viva, Viva!
Thank you very much.