Irma Elena López Colindre STRINGING SUPERVISOR
An Opportunity to Progress O
riginally from Jalapa, Nueva Segovia, Nicaragua, and trained as an agricultural technician, Irma Elena López Colindre has dedicated her working life to tobacco –a profession in which she hoped to build a better future. It is a goal she has achieved as the mother of a daughter and a leader of twenty women who are also seeking an opportunity to progress. At 17, she began as a “checker” on a farm, supervising and recording daily activities. It was there that she developed a passion for ensarte (stringing) and working with other women, whom she considers excellent employees and highly disciplined individuals. Four years ago, she arrived at El Coyol, a farm owned by Humo Selecto. This
HLG
56
company manages over 150 manzanas of land and 19 galeras (curing barns), for which she is now responsible. Irma is in charge of supervising the tobacco stringing as soon as the leaves are unloaded from the transports coming from the fields to the barns. She zealously monitors the filling of the tables so that the women can take their pairs and fill each cuje (pole) according to its capacity. Even during this interview, conducted via Google Meet, Irma did not stop her work. She took the time to answer questions