Argentina: Organisation created to support organic agricultural producers

Organic production is growing in Jujuy, and although hundreds of producers are devoted to non-certified organic agriculture, an expanding organisation that brings them together and helps them in the marketing is being promoted. By means of a network, the organization and Mikuna join efforts to enhance the value of traditional practices, with a model that received an award from the ArgenINTA foundation.

Ignacio Mayorga is one of the promoters of the network, formed by about 40 producers, with whom he collaborates in order to connect producers and consumers to "strengthen or promote the production of healthy foods and their shipment to the places where they will be demanded."

The project, synthesised into a working model, won the national award for best rural entrepreneur association formed by non-capitalised producers, chosen from among 400 projects across the country.

The growers are devoted to integrated organic production, which is not certified but meets the basic legal requirements (Law 25.127).

There is, in fact, some controversy between those who can be legally called organic producers, since they are certified, and those who cannot, due to the high costs involved and despite meeting the minimum requirements to be recognised as such.

Producers are assisted by the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, with alternative pest control methods.

The total number of producers in Jujuy is estimated to amount to several hundred, especially in Puna, Quebrada and Yungas. The network focuses its work in the marketing; the challenge is to help them improve their marketing potential, and hence their sources of income, without being invasive or changing the lifestyle of the producers.

That's why the network works in the marketing, as it understands that it is the biggest "bottleneck" for producers, many of whom do not own cars, are in remote areas and have no means for survival other than the agricultural production.

Among these producers, 12 have benefitted from a pilot project launched with support from the Ministry of Agriculture of the Nation called Procal, which received funding from the Interamerican Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture. It has provided training and support for six months to producers of northern Humahuaca, of the valleys and even Yuto.

Meanwhile, the first steps are being taken with other projects and another 30-40 producers approached them to join in and find out how to participate. Many more potentially interested growers are also estimated to exist in Puna and Yungas.

It so happens that many of these producers are isolated and their production often turns into a mere means of subsistence; it is difficult for them to produce and ship the goods and surpluses to the points of sale. Investments are needed for fences, tools, greenhouse reparations or improvements to the irrigation system, repairing infrastructure or installing drip irrigation, etc.

It so happens that some were limited in the marketing to such an extent that they were considering giving up their production activities; therefore, the network aimed to find a viable means of marketing, "based on the principles of fair trade," with agreed prices that allow producers to make a living and whose reference values ​​are local fairs.

What the experiences of producers have in common is the progress in the field of marketing. For some, however, the environmentally-friendly practices carried out have always been a part of their way of life.

In this regard, Timoteo Ochoa, of Yuto, said that "we want to bring changes to the paradigm of traditional agriculture, to all philosophical, environmental and health aspects, striving to show the difference between conventional and organic products," he affirmed. He stressed that there is a conviction from a group of people to offer the market a local product that does not undermine the health of the people consuming it.