El Campo is a cooperative formed by 3,500 members. These members are Nicaraguan farmers who cultivate sesame and other products for a living. The commercialization of the sesame, a product which is mainly assigned to exportation, represents an additional source of income for the small farmers who try hard every day to face the economic and technical difficulties. More than 1,500 tons are cultivated annually, and it is the highest exporter of Nicaragua.
The sales in the Fair Trade market are currently generating a steady level of income which allows members of the cooperative to carry out investments in the interest of the community.
A Credit Union has been established in order to provide lending to those farmers who have no access to a financial assistance in the traditional banks. Thanks to the lending, farmers can invest in goods such as hydrogen bombs.
Moreover, many formation courses are carried out to teach farmers how to improve their cultives, for example, how to create terraces, how to use of organic fertilizers, how to preserve the ground and so on. In addition, a community shop which sells staple food for an affordable price has been established. In Nicaragua, an average citizen can only afford half the dialy needs of food, so the community shop provides fresh fruits and vegetables to offer a healthier diet.
On the one hand, a natural public health clinic has been built and it treats 200 pacients every month for an affordable price. On the other hand, a model farm has also been built and it consists of local workers which are paid at a higher price than the normal one.
After the Mitch hurricane (1998) the cooperative Del campo was able to achieve all the necessary commitments, despite the huge harvest loss, which ranged between 50% and 100% depending on the case. Many members were shattered as they had lost many relatives, as well as an important part of its cattle and fertile ground that were flood or buried under the sand. By assisting the most affected farmers through a project which financed 800 hectares of land for the sesame cultive, Del Campo provided 250 families with work. It is still the leading cooperative with new organic products for exportation and, thus, nowadays is one of the greatest organic agriculture production exporters of Nicaragua.
In a land prone to natural disasters, with high levels of literacy and unemployement as well as women marginalization (80% of them have no access to credits), with Fair Trade we give support to Del Campo in the development of these communities.
Products: Tahini, sesame cream