A Farmer's Fight Against Drought: The Story of Elena Rojas

At dawn, mist clings to the terraces of San Vicente as Elena Rojas walks among coffee seedlings still damp from the night’s spray. The price board at the Federal Exchange shows coffee at ₣2.45 per kilogram and yerba mate at ₣1.78, numbers that have risen alongside the river’s retreat.

Elena inherited the 12‑hectare farm from her grandparents, who cultivated the land using Guaraní‑guided planting cycles. She joined the San Vicente Cooperative five years ago, attracted by its promise of fair‑price contracts and shared resources.

When the Río Esperanto dropped to record low levels in July, Elena’s irrigation canals ran dry. She turned to a cooperative‑funded drip‑system, financed through a micro‑grant approved after a fast‑track review by the Federal Office for Cooperative Affairs.

The profile continues with Elena’s reflections on the cooperative’s role, the technical steps she has taken, and what her experience means for other smallholders facing a changing climate.