Organic cultivation - Import export

Region and Country Alto Beni, Bolivia Story In Bolivia, cocoa is found naturally in the forests of Beni, Cochabamba and northern La Paz. These beans are supplied by El Ceibo. This is a second level cooperative, founded in 1977 by 12 grassroot cooperatives. El Ceibo brings together more than 1200 small producers dedicated to the cultivation of organic cocoa in the Alto Beni region. Since 1977 it has dedicated its efforts to improving the livelihoods of its associates. Since many years, El Ceibo in collaboration with PIAF (Program for implementation of Agro Ecology and Forestry) have promoted the cultivation of cocoa in agroforestry plantation systems, growing cocoa along fruit crops, medicinal plants and timber. Currently, it’s leading the way as an example in Bolivia to cooperatives dedicated to organic agriculture. An important pillar in the strategy of El Ceibo for the coming years is to engage youth in the cooperatives to guarantee succession.

Region and Country Markham District, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea Story The Markham River valley is a wide, sparsely populated area that encompasses a considerable amount of level agricultural land in the lower reaches. Once an area exclusively dedicated to cocoa plantations, it has also been developed for peanut cultivation and cattle farming. Markham Organic Cocoa organizes exports for smallholder cocoa and coffee farmers in the area. The producers cultivate organic cocoa by default but are not certified by an official body. There are 35 small local fermentaries to which these farmers are affiliated. By exporting through Markham Organic, farmers share directly in the profits of their sales without going through middlemen. The first overseas export ever of these farmers was purchased by Daarnhouwer and was widely covered by local media as an example of how farmers can improve their income by becoming a part of local farmer organizations.