Federación Regional de Asociaciónes de Pequeños Cafetaleros Ecológicos del Sur del Ecuador

Strengthening the fair trade coffee value chain in Ecuador

Ecuador

Fair trade

Trade in products that have been certified and carry a fair trade label. An example of this is a farmer’s cooperative that collectively sells its cocoa to a fair trade organization.

Green

Promotes and/or supports the protection of the environment. An example of this is an organic farming cooperative.

Federación Regional de Asociaciónes de Pequeños Cafetaleros Ecológicos del Sur del Ecuador (FAPECAFES) was established in 2002 to help coffee growers’ associations sell their products in the local and export markets. The federation gives technical assistance and runs various development projects. FAPECAFES represents approximately 1,200 small-scale fair trade coffee farmers in the provinces of Loja, Zamora Chinchipe and El Oro, in southern Ecuador.

FAPECAFES has a strong focus on social performance and has demonstrated commitment to the development of a group of small coffee farmers in a vulnerable region. The average plot size of the farmers is 1.5 hectares. In addition to coffee, most farmers grow complementary crops such as sugarcane, yucca, bananas, coconuts or avocados. These are used for domestic consumption and sold, in order to generate additional income.

FAPECAFES is an enthusiastic promotor of organic farming in a spirit of cooperation, social responsibility and respect for the environment.

Federación Regional de Asociaciónes de Pequeños Cafetaleros Ecológicos del Sur del Ecuador has been an Oikocredit partner since 2011.