Victor Hugo's Coffee Beans

Andy Engel talked to student Victor Hugo about his research project.

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UAC-Carmen Pampa has an extensive history of combining academic research with progressive agriculture techniques. The latest chapter in this story is Victor Hugo Belmonte, a 28 year old thesis student working with coffee production. His research focuses on drying coffee beans, a long and labor-intensive process. Traditionally, after coffee beans are washed they are left outside in the sun to dry for a period of between 8 to 15 days, depending on weather conditions. The beans must be moved regularly to avoid rain and also must be covered at night to prevent dew collection. All this must be done by hand and can be very time consuming.

Photo: Victor Hugo measures a bean for shrinkage.

Victor believes that through the use of simple, affordable greenhouses coffee can be dried with a fraction of the time and energy. The greenhouse that Victor built cost between 4000 and 5000 bolivanos or around $600, with funds from conBolivia and some materials donated by the college. Victor predicts the coffee can be dried up to 45% faster, in as few as 7 days, without the need to move the beans after they are placed in the greenhouse. The savings in human labor would be infinitely valuable in a place where there is always more work than there is time.

Photo: Victor Hugo's coffee drying greenhouse.

Victor, the youngest of three was born in the town of Colquiri in western Bolivia. There, his mother taught him a love of plants and agriculture that continues to inspire him today. A non-traditional student by American standards, Victor lived in Spain for two years, working illegally on a farm to pay for his education and support his wife and son in Bolivia. He also spent a significant amount of time working in factories and on construction sites. Today he is nearing the completion of his research project; he hopes to finish it by the end of the year. He has been happy in Carmen Pampa, which drew him in both because of its economic feasibility and its atmosphere of academics he couldn’t find in other areas. After his time at the college Victor plans to continue to work in agriculture, where he hopes to help alleviate poverty in rural areas.

Photo: Victor Hugo talk about his project.