Oct 16, 2024
MITSINJO was founded all the way back in 2009. Since then, the cooperative has been promoting sustainable, organic farming of cinnamon trees grown in agroforestry systems, as well as ginger and turmeric. For ten years, PRONATEC has been buying the entire harvest from the 400 MITSINJO smallholders through its long-term local partner PREMIUM SPICES, while also supporting them with their organic and Fairtrade certification.
Assembly of the MITSINJO small-scale farmers
Yasmine Khapery with women from the cooperative
How does the cooperative support the smallholders?
Yasmine Khapery, Head of Certification and Export at PREMIUM SPICES in Antananarivo, spoke with some of the smallholders from MITSINJO. What changed in practical terms after they joined the cooperative, and what role does it play in their lives today?
Mme Linina, 61 years, Village Sandraka (MITSINJO member since 2015)
“We must do what we can to make life easier”
Since I joined, I have built a house and a storeroom. I supply my grandchildren (13 and 15 years old) with notebooks, backpacks and clothing for school. Tools such as the Madagascan spade, known as ‘angady’, and a new knife make it easier to grow turmeric, bananas, ginger, beans and corn.
Financing of housebuilding, schooling and farming land
Many of the farmers surveyed were able to build their own homes, send their children to school and purchase more farming land thanks to the financial support provided by the cooperative. Some bought zebu cattle, which provide the farmers with milk and meat. Production goods and tools make their work easier and improve harvests.
Women empowerment is at the heart of MITSINJO’s mission
Zebus play an important role in the daily life of many smallholders
Women’s empowerment
Over half of the producers from MITSINJO are women, who are empowered particularly by membership of the cooperative. In 2019, the female members of MITSINJO founded a women’s association within the cooperative, with the goal of generating additional income. Since 2022, they have been selling their arts and crafts, school supplies and other products in the cooperative’s premises.
Mr Lesabotsy Lentoandro, 54 Jahre, Dorf Andapa (Mitglied Mitsinjo seit 2013)
“It is vital to join a cooperative, because this can lead to a better life.”
Since I joined the cooperative, I have been able to build a house, buy four zebu, send my three children to school and pay school fees (currently only for one of my children, who is 20 years old).
Funding of community projects and aid
The members of the cooperative decide together how to spend the fair trade premiums – with a democratic vote during the general assembly. The lion’s share is paid directly to the farmers, employees and seasonal workers. Thanks to this, the farmers can prepare their plots before the next harvest, fund seedlings, buy materials and pay workers. With the fair trade money, the cooperative purchases goods for shared use, such as lorries or technical equipment for meetings (loudspeakers, for example).
Democratic voting at the General Meeting
Compressor financed from Fairtrade premiums
A Madagascan saying goes:
« One tree alone does not make a forest, one finger alone cannot catch a louse. » So all farmers should join a cooperative.”
I have been a member of MITSINJO since I was 45 years old. Since then, I have been able to build myself a two-storey house, send my child to school (who is now 16 years old), buy two zebu as well as a plot of land with rice, which yields 150 to 160 sacks of rice per harvest.
Mr Laro Paul Justin, 58 years, Village Sandraka (Member MITSINJO since 2011)
Farming diversification ensures biodiversity and climate resilience
PREMIUM SPICES advises smallholders to plant new fruit or forest trees every year on their plots, to preserve biodiversity, improve production and counteract climate change.
Income diversification thanks to a great variety of seedlings
The farmers grow most of the seedlings themselves – so for instance fruit-bearing trees like mango, avocado, jackfruit and orange trees, but also banana palms. The cooperative funds around 5,000 cinnamon seedlings every year. These are topped up by PREMIUM SPICES to 13,000 cinnamon seedlings in total for yearly distribution.
Our long-term partnership with PREMIUM SPICES
Bourbon vanilla, cloves, cinnamon, ginger, turmeric and cocoa in organic and fair trade quality are important sources of income for the smallholder families of Madagascar. PRONATEC has been working for around 20 years with its local partner, PREMIUM SPICES, and with a total of five cooperatives in Madagascar.
