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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