Download RAOS - Fairtrade America

Cooperativa Regional Mixta de
Agricultores Orgánicos de La Sierra Ltda / RAOS
Coffee
Honduras
FLO ID 905
Fairtrade certified since 2001
Number of members 286
Percentage of women 31%
Introduction
Cooperativa Regional Mixta de Agricultores Orgánicos de La Sierra Ltda or
RAOS is located in 7 small towns with its headquarters in the town of Marcala,
La Paz, in western Honduras. This is one of the poorest states in the country
where there are high rates of malnutrition (54%) and poverty (70%). People are
highly dependent on coffee and agriculture.
In the 90s, a wave of organic farming spread throughout this region. With
support of local institutions, training and knowledge exchanges supported
farmers to convert their farms to organic production. In 1996, 19 local farmers
came together to explores ways to live in harmony with nature. RAOS was the
first cooperative in Honduras to export organic coffee.
As pioneers of organic production, they have been able to use sustainable
farming, processing and export of coffee to improve the lives of the people in
coffee communities. Their members are of the Lenca indigenous group.
Women sorting RAOS coffee for export. ©Sean
Hawkey
Coffee growing, processing and export
RAOS have developed a business management system to process and export
coffee. They have invested in coffee processing equipment which allows them
to process a high quality speciality coffee. They provide marketing, quality
control, coffee tasting, technical organic farming assistance and financial
services.
As well as coffee, the members of RAOS also produce vegetables, wine, crafts,
honey, shampoo, soap, nectar and bee pollen, juice and grains. These organic
products are sold locally, and they are currently looking to expand to national
and international markets.
As well as Fairtrade and organic certification, RAOS exports their coffee under
the certificate of origin ‘Marcala’. Their main markets are in Germany, Canada
and USA.
FAIRTRADE.NET
Altitude 1,200 – 1,650m
Smallholders 3 ha
Total area under production 532 ha
Growing practices 96% organic
Coffee variety Arabica: Catuai, Borbon,
Typica, Lempira , Ihcafe 90
Coffee quality SHG-EP, HG: citrus
fragrance, equisite acidity with hing of
wild berry, sweet fruity flavour, fresh
and consistent after-taste
Harvest December – March
Other certifications Biolatina (organic)
PRODUCER PROFILE
Benefits of Fairtrade
The organization has 5 committees which run projects. There is a committee for
education, certification, credit and financial services, farm/income diversification
and gender.
Education and training
The organization has used the Fairtrade Premium to subsidize 50% of the
school fees for the children of members. As a result, 99% of children involved in
the organization go to school. The organization supports members and their
children with an education project using the radio. They pay the teachers’
salaries and give educational materials to schools. They also use the Premium
to run training sessions with all members, leadership team and staff.
Gender
Women are underrepresented in agriculture. Female farmers do an estimated
45% of the work, including planting, growing, fertilization, harvesting and sorting
of the coffee, as well as household tasks and other economic activities. The
Gender Committee use the Fairtrade Premium to run gender workshops and
raise awareness of women in agriculture and other issues like domestic abuse.
Climate change: the effects of la roya or leaf rust
The organization have secured a loan from Root Capital to rehabilitate farms
which have been devastated by la roya or leaf rusts disease, which is thought to
be in the increase due to climate change. They have also engaged commercial
partners in the issue who are paying an additional price to support farmers to
overcome the coffee disease.
Iván Vásquez cupping RAOS organic Fairtrade
coffee for quality control. ©Sean Hawkey
Quality and productivity
RAOS have invested the Fairtrade
Premium in quality control and a
tasting lab to guarantee the quality of
their coffee, and the competiveness of
their business. They have also
invested in washing and drying
processing equipment in Matamula.
Economic: credit scheme
The Fairtrade Premium has been used to set up small loans for 48 members.
Social
The Fairtrade Premium is used to support members with funeral costs. They
have also set up a community centre for the Cerrón community.
Challenges
• RAOS farms have been devastated by la roya or leaf rusts disease, caused
by climate change. This has considerably reduced yields.
• RAOS would benefit from more investment in coffee processing
infrastructure. They need more washing stations and larger storage facilities.
They also need more drying equipment.
• RAOS see a key focus in diversifying production so their members are not so
highly reliant on coffee income.
FAIRTRADE.NET
Preparing coffee sacks for export. ©Sean
Hawkey
Business strengthening
The organization has used the
Fairtrade Premium to participate in
international fairs such as SCAA,
SCAE and Central American forums to
promote their coffee and take part in
industry discussions.
PRODUCER PROFILE
[email protected] / www.cooperativaraos.org/
Iván Vásquez cupping RAOS organic Fairtrade
coffee for quality control. ©Sean Hawkey
Quality and productivity
RAOS have invested the Fairtrade
Premium in quality control and a
tasting lab to guarantee the quality of
their coffee, and the competiveness of
their business. They have also
invested in washing and drying
processing equipment in Matamula.
Preparing coffee sacks for export. ©Sean
Hawkey
Business strengthening
The organization has used the
Fairtrade Premium to participate in
international fairs such as SCAA,
SCAE and Central American forums to
promote their coffee and take part in
industry discussions.
FAIRTRADE.NET
PRODUCER PROFILE