The Agricultural Cooperative Federation produces 350,000 kilos of vegetable seeds. "We started with the idea of carrying out productive work and, eventually, the idea spread out and new groups joined up and eventually formed into cooperatives". Thus summarizes Juan Carlos Sosa, producer and member of Fecoagro, the first steps of the cooperative that currently produces more than 350,000 kilos of vegetable seeds a year.
"Undoubtedly, the key was the joint work between INTA and citizens willing to become key actors," said Sosa and recalled that this initiative was born in 1982 in Angaco-San Juan from a group of 14 people with a common idea: to produce vegetable seeds for sale.
This small group of producers' experience gave way to the Cooperative of Carmen. Over time, we began to produce and spread out the idea. After new groups joined they formed into cooperatives that are members of Fecoagro today," said Sosa.
Currently, Fecoagro is an Association made up of 30 cooperatives comprised of over 650 families. Eduardo Pablo Franovich, President of the Board of Fecoagro, stressed the importance that, "the producers themselves are the ones who are at the forefront of this great organization, which is our company".
Cooperative action contributes to the development of the medium and provides an organizational structure. Thus, the alliance of the Federation of Cooperatives with the Ministry of Social Development's Office for National Food Security via the Pro Huerta program meant jobs for the partners, "genuine work generated more than 350 women during five months of the year," said Franovich.
Another major contributions of the association was the creation of its own shopping centre in which the vegetable seeds and more than 40 products, such as cheese, sweets, artisan jams, wines, oils, loom fabrics, aromatics, and clothing for school and work are sold.
According to Franovich, the linking of these institutions allowed them to gain access to other markets such as Korea and Japan. "In fact, we currently have a close business relationship with Haiti," he said.
Source: Eldiariodelarepublica.com
