S\u00e3o Paulo \u2013 The Centre of Cashew Farmer Cooperatives of the State of Piau\u00ed (Cocajupi), created in 2005 to strengthen family farming in the micro-region of Picos, is preparing a strategy to conquer its first clients abroad. The path chosen by the group in order to grow and become visible to international buyers was certification in foreign trade, which should be issued in eight months. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe are also awaiting accreditation with the Ministry of Agriculture and setting up the last details regarding the standardization of our products and packages,\u201d explains Ruy Brito, executive advisor to the board of directors at Cocajupi. Consisting of nine cooperatives and 485 members, the organisation expects to certify around 70% of farmers and reach demanding markets such as countries in the European Union, the United States and the United Arab Emirates. <\/p>\n
\u201cWith regard to opportunities in Europe and the United States, we have been prospected by the Bank of Brazil Foundation and the World Bank. We have also been contacted by a Brazilian businessman who is interested in exporting to Dubai,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are investing in fair trade certification, which pays up to 50% more than the conventional market, so as to strengthen our products and better structure the communities,\u201d he explains. According to him, Brazilian consumers are also increasingly concerned with the origin of products and the type of organisation involved in the process. <\/p>\n
According to Brito, the cooperative complex counts on nine mini-factories for cashew nut processing and one central for screening, classification and commercialisation of production. \u201cAll of them are equipped and ready to operate, with an installed capacity of 2,000 tonnes of cashew per year, including vehicles for product transport logistics between the cooperatives,\u201d he explains. Each mini-factory generates 30 direct jobs, plus another 40 positions at the centre. <\/p>\n
Domestic market <\/b><\/p>\n
Expansion in the domestic market took place in 2008 after participation in fairs such as the Piau\u00edsampa, held in S\u00e3o Paulo in early June. The group also participated in Fenabrave, the National Fair for Family Farming, held in September in Rio de Janeiro, and in Biofach Latin America, held in October in S\u00e3o Paulo. Presently, cashew nuts processed by Cocajupi are sold to wholesalers and retailers in the states of S\u00e3o Paulo, Goi\u00e2nia, Porto Velho, Macap\u00e1, Rio de Janeiro, Bahia and Para\u00edba.<\/p>\n
Action across the entire chain <\/b><\/p>\n
According to Brito, Cocajupi operates in the segments of production, industrialisation and commercialisation of cashew nuts to organise and strengthen the production chain. The goal of the organisation is to enable the incorporation of profit to the gains of family farmers, whereas before it used to go to intermediaries and cashew industries.<\/p>\n
Other goals are strengthening the cashew nut processing industry, improving the quality standard of products, adopting more efficient technologies and appropriate processing methods for purchasing raw material. The standardisation of production, increase in productivity, training and the raising of farmers’ income across all links in the production chain are other goals of Cocajupi.<\/p>\n
Contact
E-mail: ruybrito@hotmail.com<\/p>\n
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum <\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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