COCLA

High in the Peruvian Andes in the south of Peru, surrounded by lush, tropical valleys, COCLA's smallholder coffee growers enjoy an ideal climate for growing their superb quality Arabica beans. 

COCLA is an umbrella organization that has existed for 42 years. Its 8,500 farmers are grouped into 23 co-operatives. COCLA is located in the Quillabamba region of Peru, east of the Inca City of Machu Picchu, in the Convencion and Yanatile valleys.

COCLA produces high-quality coffee, providing democratic programs for its members and their communities while strengthening the local economy. The organization enforces environmental responsibility, along with good agricultural practices, and implements processes which allow producers to diversify production. COCLA sells both organic and non-organic coffee to international markets.

Co-ops take root in Peru

The sixties were the height of the co-operative movement in Peru. During this decade, the Peruvian government passed an agrarian reform program, allowing for the creation of co-operatives. As a result, farm worker union members became the owners of coffee-growing lands once belonging to their patrons. They began forming co-operatives as a means of addressing the issue of intermediaries taking coffee on consignment. The first coffee co-operative of small-scale farmers was “ San Juan del Oro” in Puno, Southern Peru. Following this, many initiatives weres created, typically  along the edge of the Peruvian jungle.

	COCLA Warehouse photo  Photo by Ralph Dransfield

COCLA was born as a result of the solidarity of the region’s coffee co-ops. In 1967, seven coffee co-ops from La Convencion and Yanatile, formed mainly by small-scale coffee farmers, joined forces to build an umbrella organization aimed at improving the terms of coffee trade.

COCLA’s initial activities initially providing warehousing services, processing, insurance, and accounting services. Later, services were added including coffee sales, finance, business management training, and agricultural extension services.

In September 1991, COCLA modified its Constitution Act and adopted the name “CENTRAL DE COOPERATIVAS AGRARIAS CAFETALERAS “COCLA” LTDA.”. The approval and adoption of this new constitution brought about many changes in the organizational structure, and led to a more efficient management of the newly expanded COCLA.

How members and their communities benefit

Here are just a few of COCLA's exciting initiatives:

• 	COCLA cupping laboratory Photo by Inge Karlsson Handels AB

  Sustainable agriculture. The co-operative 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.

• Quality improvement. COCLA has established a technology-transfer project to facilitate the improvement of coffee quality and management in the field.

• Education. The co-operative has implemented various projects, including the creation of a technical school for its members.

• Healthcare. COCLA has created a program called “Ayni Salud” that aims to improve health of and raise medical awareness in member communities

And there's more...

COCLA also has a credit program offering low interest loans to women. As coffee is the main source of income for families, but beans are only purchased once a year, women must often find other sources for income. These loans allow them to do that.

In recent years, COCLA has used part of the Fairtrade premium for a fund for training and technical assistance. It provides farmers with education programmes and on-site technical assistance. The omembers have also used the fund to pay themselves a second payment at the end of the season, in order to increase their income.

	Grinding coffee cherries Photo by Equal Exchange

COCLA also promotes the association of other co-operatives, in order to support their current activities and to generate other sources of income for members. These include:

1. Cooperative of Multiple Services Sumaq Tanta, a women’s co-operative dedicated to the production of bread and pastries
2. AMAUTA Savings and Credit Co-operative, dedicated to provide micro-credit to the community members
3. Cooperative COCLA Tour, promoting ecotourism and experiential tourism in the communities

COCLA also promotes diversification and value added for their products. Members are encouraged to grow additional crops, including cocoa. Also, other products are marketed in nearby regions, including roasted coffee, chocolate, black tea, and animal feed. Many members also breed small animals, such as chickens, turkeys, and ducks.

 External Sources

http://www.coclaperu.com
http://www.transfairusa.org/content/certification/profiles.php
http://www.equalexchange.coop/profile-of-cocla-in-peru