INTRODUCTION La Central de Cooperativas Agrarias Cafetaleras de los Valles de
Sandi (CECOVASA) was founded in 1970 by five
the objective of exporting directly as a group, obtain
prices and sharing costs. Before this, farmers sold their beans to
local traders, who typically paid less than half the market price.
Today the organisation exports directly to US and European
markets and is one of the largest small producer organisations in
the country.
CECOVASA is a secondary-level organis
co-operatives which represent 5,049 Quechua and Aymara peasant
families. Eight of the co-ops are located in Puno region and two in
Cuzco region, with most farms located on the eastern slopes of the
Andes. Aymara farms are mainly located in the Tambopata Valley
and Quechua farms in the Inambari Valley. A third of coffee
production is in the buffer zone of Bahuaja Sonene National Park.
The farmers cultivate two hectares of coffee on average at
altitudes of 800 to 2,000 metres above sea level. The harvest lasts
from March to July, extending to November in the higher zones.
CECOVASA has a potential supply of 80,000 quintals (3,680 ton
a year. Its production is triple certified
Rainforest Alliance. In 2011-12, Fairtrade accounted for
sales. Members grow high quality specialty coffee which has won a
number of awards: five-time winners of the
competition (2005, 2007, 2009 , 2011 and 2012
brand was voted World Champion at the Specialty Coffee
Association of America (SCAA) fair in 2010 FAIRTRADE CECOVASA is paid the Fairtrade Minimum Price for Fairtrade
plus the additional Fairtrade Premium to invest in business
CECOVASA COFFEE PRODUCER PERU
La Central de Cooperativas Agrarias Cafetaleras de los Valles de
Sandi (CECOVASA) was founded in 1970 by five co-operatives with
directly as a group, obtaining better
Before this, farmers sold their beans to
local traders, who typically paid less than half the market price.
ly to US and European
markets and is one of the largest small producer organisations in
level organisation made up of 10 primary
operatives which represent 5,049 Quechua and Aymara peasant
ops are located in Puno region and two in
Cuzco region, with most farms located on the eastern slopes of the
located in the Tambopata Valley
and Quechua farms in the Inambari Valley. A third of coffee
fer zone of Bahuaja Sonene National Park.
The farmers cultivate two hectares of coffee on average at
altitudes of 800 to 2,000 metres above sea level. The harvest lasts
from March to July, extending to November in the higher zones.
ial supply of 80,000 quintals (3,680 tonnes)
s triple certified – Fairtrade, organic and
12, Fairtrade accounted for 75% of
coffee which has won a
winners of the national quality coffee
2005, 2007, 2009 , 2011 and 2012); their Café Tunki
at the Specialty Coffee
in 2010.
airtrade Minimum Price for Fairtrade sales
plus the additional Fairtrade Premium to invest in business
development and community improvements. FAIRTRADE PREMIUM PROJECTS
Business development
• Construction of new processing facility
• Installation of cupping laboratory at the central coffee storage facility
• Construction of coffee warehouses for village co-operatives
• Quality-control programme implemented at the Peruvian Coffee Board’s cupping laboratory to train
the workers responsible for the storage and shipment of members' coffee.
• Investment in farming equipment, including 40 coffee de-pulping machines, 1,000 pruning saws and
three humidity scales used in the coffee drying process, ongoing maintenance of de-pulping machines.
• Purchase of computers, printers and photocopiers for main office.
• Field agronomists employed to train farmers in quality control, organic production techniques and
environmental conservation procedures
Education
With the support of Fairtrade revenue, thousands of families have been able to send their children to
school and many children have gone on to higher education.
Women's Programmes
CECOVASA established the Committee for the Development of Women (CODEMU), which provides a
forum for discussion and training on topics such as first aid, leadership, gender roles and animal
husbandry.
Community Programmes
• Repair and maintenance of roads
• Financial contribution to the construction of a hydroelectric plant in nearby Tunquimayo that will
supply energy to the region
• Installation of sewer system
• Reforestation programmes
Fairtrade Foundation July 2013