fair trade succes stories
conacado – dominican republic
In the 1980s, the cocoa industry in the Dominican Republic (DR) was dominated by just four families. Farmers were very poorly organized and poorly paid and the quality of cocoa was low. Frequently, the income received from the export of their cocoa was below the costs of production. CONACADO (Confederación Nacional de Cacaocultores Dominicanos) was founded as a co-operative farmer response to low global cocoa prices and to improve the quality of cocoa produced in the DR.
Following years of hard work and a determination to transition into the organic and Fair Trade systems, today CONACADO is the world’s largest producer of Fair Trade organic cocoa and one of the largest cocoa exporters in the DR, exporting 25% of the country’s cocoa. It is comprised of 9,000 small-scale farmers organized into 9 regional "bloque" associations, each consisting of 126 village associations. It is estimated that CONACADO’s total Fair Trade premiums will be USD 1 million in 2006.
Cocoa is the main cash crop for CONACADO farmers, accounting for 90% of the farmer's income. CONACADO cocoa is produced using organic agricultural techniques under the shade grown canopy of other fruit-producing trees that provide extra income and food security for the farmers. Premiums from Fair Trade sales have helped to improve production and the quality of cocoa, and have assisted communities in investing in much needed community water systems, health clinics and educational scholarships.
cacvra – peru
Peruvian producers struggle to provide a viable alternative to the illegal economy associated with the growth and sale of Peru’s traditional crop of coca for cocaine production. This is especially challenging as coca fetches five times the dollar value of cocoa. Fair Trade premiums are truly providing long-term opportunities for producers, their families and communities.
La Siembra visited CACVRA or the Agrarian Coffee Cooperative – Valle Rio Apurimac in Peru in the Fall of 2005. We were greeted by representatives of the 217 small landowners who comprise the organic growers of cocoa at CACVRA. They are located approximately ten hours from Ayacucho in the higher parts of the Peruvian tropical zone, centrally located in the jungle of the Apurimac Valley.
Our co-op was greatly impressed with this co-operative and the commitment of its members to produce a high quality export cocoa crop. The ten-hour drive along what can only be described as both breathtakingly beautiful and terrifying is one that we hope to take some of you on one day.
manduvirá – paraguay
La Siembra Co-op's principle source for its Fair Trade Certified organic sugar is Manduvirá Co-operative Ltd. in Paraguay. It is comprised of 193 producers who each produce 40 tonnes/hectare of sugar cane. Manduvirá Co-operative Ltd. was founded in 1975 in order to support small farmers who did not have guaranteed markets for their products and had difficulty with the commercialization of their products. The objective of Manduvirá Co-operative Ltd. is to offer marketing services to its members, as well as credit facilities, technical support, and training. The co-operative currently offers credit services for financing production, marketing services, provides training conferences about co-operatives and operates a credit union.
One of the biggest success stories resulting from producer visits this year is underscored by La Siembra's import of the first container of Fair Trade organic cane sugar from Manduvirá Co-operative in Paraguay. Manduvirá has taken steps to become a miller and exporter of its own sugar cane for the first time in its 30-year-history and La Siembra had the opportunity to investigate this project and get concretely behind it by committing to importing the first container.
