Maya Mountain Cacao
Belize
Last updated December 18, 2012
Partner Description:
Maya Mountain Cacao (MMC) is a for-profit social enterprise that sources premium cacao beans from smallholder farmers in Belize. Founded in 2010, it generates income for marginalized farmers while promoting sustainable agricultural practices in the southern region.
Belize is one of the seven Caribbean countries that produces premium cacao beans, and they are highly valued for their quality and superb flavor. The country has a population of over 350,000 people of different ethnic backgrounds, but MMC works primarily with smallholder K’ekchi and Mopan Maya farming families that grow cacao in the jungle foothills of the Maya Mountain range in the Toledo District of Belize.
K’ekchi and Mopan Maya farmers who produce premium cacao beans.
The Maya consistently have the highest poverty rate, the highest unemployment and the lowest average income of any ethnic group in Belize. And MMC is the only enterprise that exports cacao beans grown in the Toledo District to the U.S. chocolate market.
Kiva financing will enable MMC to meet demand for pre-harvest financing for its farmers. The organization will provide microloans between $250 and $1,000 to help farmers buy better tools, invest in farm maintenance, and expand their land to increase their cacao yields.
A unique lending approach
MMC supports farmers by providing affordable seedlings, technical assistance, centralized fermentation equipment, organic certification and stable local and international demand. By selling their cacao as fresh fruit to MMC, farmers are only responsible for producing and harvesting their crops. This gives Maya farmers an opportunity to focus time on increasing their family’s production to a volume that brings in sustainable income.
MMC pays farmers a guaranteed fair and stable price for their cacao -- with a price floor that is above the Fair Trade premium. It does this by connecting them to chocolate companies that deeply value the work and traditions of cacao farmers. By renewing the cacao industry and providing alternatives to traditional slash-and-burn farming, it’s lifting entire villages out of poverty and preventing irreversible damage to the tropical habitat.
A Maya Mountain Cacao farmer demonstrates how cacao dries on solar dryers at the central processing house.
Maya Mountain Cacao joined Kiva through our Experimental Partnership Program, and has therefore received a lighter level of due diligence. Accordingly, loans associated with this partner carry a higher level of risk than typical Kiva loans.
Images courtesy of MMC.
Partner Description:
Maya Mountain Cacao (MMC) is a for-profit social enterprise that sources premium cacao beans from smallholder farmers in Belize. Founded in 2010, it generates income for marginalized farmers while promoting sustainable agricultural practices in the southern region.
Belize is one of the seven Caribbean countries that produces premium cacao beans, and they are highly valued for their quality and superb flavor. The country has a population of over 350,000 people of different ethnic backgrounds, but MMC works primarily with smallholder K’ekchi and Mopan Maya farming families that grow cacao in the jungle foothills of the Maya Mountain range in the Toledo District of Belize.
K’ekchi and Mopan Maya farmers who produce premium cacao beans.
The Maya consistently have the highest poverty rate, the highest unemployment and the lowest average income of any ethnic group in Belize. And MMC is the only enterprise that exports cacao beans grown in the Toledo District to the U.S. chocolate market.
Kiva financing will enable MMC to meet demand for pre-harvest financing for its farmers. The organization will provide microloans between $250 and $1,000 to help farmers buy better tools, invest in farm maintenance, and expand their land to increase their cacao yields.
A unique lending approach
MMC supports farmers by providing affordable seedlings, technical assistance, centralized fermentation equipment, organic certification and stable local and international demand. By selling their cacao as fresh fruit to MMC, farmers are only responsible for producing and harvesting their crops. This gives Maya farmers an opportunity to focus time on increasing their family’s production to a volume that brings in sustainable income.
MMC pays farmers a guaranteed fair and stable price for their cacao -- with a price floor that is above the Fair Trade premium. It does this by connecting them to chocolate companies that deeply value the work and traditions of cacao farmers. By renewing the cacao industry and providing alternatives to traditional slash-and-burn farming, it’s lifting entire villages out of poverty and preventing irreversible damage to the tropical habitat.
A Maya Mountain Cacao farmer demonstrates how cacao dries on solar dryers at the central processing house.
Maya Mountain Cacao joined Kiva through our Experimental Partnership Program, and has therefore received a lighter level of due diligence. Accordingly, loans associated with this partner carry a higher level of risk than typical Kiva loans.
Images courtesy of MMC.
Repayment Performance on Kiva
Repayment Performance on Kiva| This Field Partner | All Kiva Partners | ||
| Start Date On Kiva | Dec 20, 2012 | Oct 12, 2005 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Loans | $20,075 | $424,025,700 | |
| Amount of Raised Inactive Loans | $800 | $240,475 | |
| Number Of Raised Inactive Loans | 3 | 221 | |
| Amount of Paying Back Loans | $18,750 | $92,071,175 | |
| Number Of Paying Back Loans | 52 | 99,788 | |
| Amount of Ended Loans | $525 | $331,714,050 | |
| Number Of Ended Loans | 1 | 434,937 | |
| Delinquency Rate | 0.00% | 2.11% | |
| Amount In Arrears | $0 | $1,230,498 | |
| Outstanding Portfolio | $16,305 | $58,360,650 | |
| Number of Loans Delinquent | 0 | 9,862 | |
| Default Rate | 100.00% (See Note) | 0.97% | |
| Amount of Ended Loans Defaulted | $525 | $3,220,059 | |
| Amount of Ended Loans | $525 | $331,714,050 | |
| Number Of Ended Loans Defaulted | 1 | 9,823 | |
| Currency Exchange Loss Rate | 0.00% | 0.02% | |
| Amount of Currency Exchange Loss | $0 | $77,435 | |
| Refund Rate | 3.99% | 0.96% | |
| Amount of Refunded Loans | $800 | $4,068,925 | |
| Number Of Refunded Loans | 2 | 4,589 |
Loan Characteristics On Kiva
Loan Characteristics On Kiva| This Field Partner | All Kiva Partners | ||
| Loans To Women Entrepreneurs | 6.15% | 74.04% | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Loan Size | $360 | $406 | |
| Average Individual Loan Size | $360 | $645 | |
| Average Group Loan Size | $0 | $1,742 | |
| Average Number Of Entrepreneurs Per Group | 0 | 8 | |
| Average GDP Per Capita (PPP) in Local Country | $8,400 | $3,346 | |
| Average Loan Size / GDP Per Capita (PPP) | 4.28% | 12.14% | |
| Average Time To Fund A Loan | 0.09 days | 4.69 days | |
| Average Dollars Raised Per Day Per Loan | $3,864.81 | $86.65 | |
| Average Loan Term | 11.22 months | 9.61 months |
Journaling Performance on Kiva
Journaling Performance on Kiva| This Field Partner | All Kiva Partners | ||
| Total Journals | 6 | 202,920 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Journaling Rate | 0.00% | 39.94% | |
| Average Number Of Comments Per Journal | 0.00 | 0.11 | |
| Average Number Of Recommendations Per Journal | 0.00 | 2.73 |
Borrowing Cost Comparison (based on 2009 data)
Borrowing Cost Comparison (based on 2009 data)| This Field Partner | Median for MFI Peers in Country | All Kiva Partners | ||
| Portfolio Yield | N/A | N/A | 35.14% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Profitability (Return on Assets) | N/A | N/A | -0.41% | |
| Average Loan Size (% of Per Capita Income) | N/A | N/A | 46.81% |
Country Fast Facts
Country Fast Facts- Country:
- Belize
- Capital:
- Belmopan
- Official Language:
- English
- Population:
- 307,899
- Avg Annual Income:
- $8,400
- Labor Force:
- agriculture: 10.2% industry: 18.1% services: 71.7% (2007)
- Population Below Poverty Line:
- Literacy Rate:
- 76.9%
- Infant Mortality Rate (per 1000):
- 23.07 deaths
- Life Expectancy:
- 68.2 years
Field Partner Staff
Anna ChoElma Paulauskaite
Marion Ramirez
Emily Stone