COCLA
High in the Peruvian Andes, surrounded by lush, tropical valleys, the smallholder growers enjoy
the best possible climate in which to grow their superb quality Arabica beans. With 8,500 farmers grouped in 25 different co-operatives; COCLA has been selling both organic and non-organic coffee to the international markets and is good example of the Sustainability in the coffee industry in Peru.
COCLA is an umbrella organization, as a result of the cooperative effort and solidarity of the coffee coops, since 38 years. Cocla is located in Quillabamba region of Peru, east of the Inca City of Machu Pichu, central region of Peru. The basis of COCLA operation rests upon: producing a quality coffee, establishing democratic and inclusive programs with a truly and devote vocation service to offering equitable opportunities for integrated development of their members and communities likewise activities that aim to improve the economy of their members with special attention to the environmental responsibility along with good agricultural practises and implementing process which allow to diversify their production.
Coperativism
Since the decade of Sixties at the height of the cooperativism, due to the success to the cooperative of save and credit (“Coperativas de ahorro y credito” ) in Peru as well for the promulgation of the General of the Cooperatives in December 1964 and with the consequently foundation of the first coffee cooperative of small scale farmers “ San Juan del Oro” in Puno. South region in Peru.
Since that experience many other initiatives were raise a long of the edge of jungle of Peru. In the Peruvian valleys of the Convencion and Yanatile in the Cusco region other initiatives were born fundamentally seeking for solving the problem of the commercialization of coffee. Due to the commercialization were in accordance of the whim of the coffee dealers and intermediaries, who’s received the coffee promising in future payment and without guarantee for a fair trade for the small scale farmers.
Seven Coffee Coops from La Convencion and Yanatile, formed mainly by small scale coffee farmers join forces realizing the need to unified efforts aimed to build a Umbrella Organization which allowed them to improve the terms of coffee trade based on Fairness :
This are the Founders Cooperatives of “COCLA”:
• Cooperativa Agrícola y de Servicios Sicre Ltda. N° 99
• Cooperativa Agrícola y de Servicios del Sindicato de Huadquiña Ltda. N° 109
• Cooperativa Agrícola y de Servicios Huayopata Ltda. N° 110
• Cooperativa Campesina Túpac Amáru Ltda. N° 115
• Cooperativa Campesina Mateo Pumacahua Ltda. N° 185
• Cooperativa Agrícola y de Servicios Valle de Lares Ltda. N° 186
• Cooperativa Agrícola Santa Ana Ltda. N° 232
In this context in June 26 of 1967, COCLA was officially born with the name of “Central de Cooperativas Agrarias de la Convención y Lares Ltda. N° 281”. After the constitution of COCLA in 1967 other like minding coops were integrated along the years.
COCLA began their activities initially proving warehousing services, processing, insurance, and accounting services. Later, a Coffee Sales and Financing service was added. Other services which followed soon afterward including business management training, agricultural extension services. Subsequently in September 03 of 1991.The cooperative modify their constitution act and adopt the denomination of: CENTRAL DE COOPERATIVAS AGRARIAS CAFETALERAS “COCLA” LTDA. Nº 281.The approval and adoption of these new constitution act and the statues, bring about many changes in the organizational structure and functions aiming for a better efficient management of the new expanded COCLA.
Now a days, 37 years after, COCLA is an organization which is a model of Sustainability and in the Coffee industry in Peru, and has been consolidating social, economically and technically for the benefit of their members.
IMPACT OF FAIR TRADE
- Sustainable agriculture. The cooperative runs a crop diversification project
that significantly improves the nutrition of farming families and provides
them with an additional source of income. Through COCLA’s organic coffee
project, over 20,000 acres of coffee have been certified organic.
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| Cocla Warehouse photo by:Ralph Dransfield. |
- Quality improvement. COCLA has established a technology-transfer
project to facilitate the improvement of coffee quality and management in
the field.
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| COCLA Cupping Laboratory , photo by : Inge Karlsson Handels AB |
- Education. The cooperative has implemented various projects including the
Creation of a technical school for its members.
- Healthcare. COCLA created a program called “Ayni Salud” that aims to
Improve health of and raise medical awareness in member communities
Other Benefits of Fair Trade
Other inclusive programs were created such as Credit programs with low interest due to women are responsible for the household finances, so COCLA also offers them low-interest loans through a credit program. Coffee is the main source of income for the families, but beans are only purchased once a year, so women must often find other sources for income – and the loans can help them do that.
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| Grining Coffe Beans Photo by: Equal Exchange |
COCLA have also encouraged members to grow other crops, including cocoa. COCLA has been using part of the Fairtrade premium for investment in the “Fondo de Capacitacion y Asistencia Técnica”, a fund for training and technical assistance. It provides farmers with education programmes and on-farm technical assistance. They have also used the fund to pay their Members a second payment at the end of the season to increase their income.
External Sources