As an Agricultural Technician, Roselly Vallecillo has worked for seven years for Plasencia Tabacos in the Jamastrán Valley, Danlí, Honduras. After completing her professional internship in the agricultural area –planting and harvesting– she joined the company and rose to the position of harvest supervisor, because “if they see potential, a desire to learn, and good performance, they allow you to grow. It is all a matter of attitude.”
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Her father was dedicated to tobacco cultivation and production, which represent a vital source of employment in the area. “My mother was at home, which is the hardest job, as she had to raise six children, among whom I was the fifth.”
Roselly explains that her internship lasted six months and consisted of observing the products applied, their dosages, and the equipment used, but she also became involved in soil preparation activities and irrigation systems. “I have learned a lot, but what interests me most is the area of sustainability.”
Afterward, Roselly asked for a job opportunity, and it was granted. “That’s when things got serious. It wasn’t an internship anymore; it was reality.” Based on her demonstrated dedication and interest, she was moved through different activities until reaching the position of supervisor, a role she has held for two years.
During the interview, conducted via video conference on her cell phone, she shows a plot where a group of men is working. “It is the last priming (harvest) of a tobacco that will be used for filler (tripa), and since there are no more leaves and it doesn’t require as much precision, you can have men, who are more rugged.”
She explains that the cut is done entirely by hand at the “pegue” –where the leaf meets the stalk of the plant– and that women have more precision, which prevents mechanical damage. To ensure preservation, she also supervises the correct placement of the leaves in the plastic crates: the underside (envés) facing down, and the top (haz) facing up.
At 32, Roselly has two daughters. It is precisely because of them that she worries about the effects of global warming. “The company has allowed me to learn about sustainability. I am interested in ensuring that field production does not harm the environment, the control of agrochemicals, and the conservation of soil and water sources. We have good practices here.”
She hopes her daughters will educate themselves and have more opportunities, as their circumstances are different. “The role of women has changed tremendously; there is more respect from colleagues and more possibilities to grow… It’s the same as in the home, because we also contribute financially.”
She affirms that in Danlí, family stories involving tobacco often repeat themselves because it is a crop with many years of history in the area. “I would love for my daughters to follow the same path, because you develop love and passion for what you do, and tobacco places us –as a country– on an international level.”
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