Economic Sustainability

Market Access / Relationships

In trying to sell their crops, growers in remote villages are typically subject to prevailing prices offered by local buyers. With over 20 years in the commodities markets, Growers First has many relationships and contacts that are willing to pay excellent, market level - or higher - pricing for crops grown and sold by Growers First cooperatives.

By developing these relationships the growers and cooperatives are assured a fair and equitable compensation for their crops and their labors. This is a crucial component in the ongoing sustainability of the enterprises and provides the foundation for growth and an improved quality of life.

Agricultural Training

Oftentimes growers are simply not aware of the demands of commodity markets in terms of which products have the highest value. Coffee beans, for instance, have several grades which command significantly different selling prices. Coffee growers have the ability to grow the highest value beans by simply conforming their growing practices to those that will yield the highest quality beans. Likewise, the crop yield from each coffee tree can be increased by these practices. This means that just by training growers in the most effective methodologies, they will receive an immediate improvement in their crop income.

Growers First provides agronomists to train growers in state of the art techniques of planting, spacing, location, land management, pruning, irrigation, intercropping, terracing, etc. that will not only produce the largest and most valuable beans on a given tree but will also yield the most beans per tree. This means that the money generated from each tree is increased significantly. When multiplied by the number of trees on a given farm, the overall increase can be substantial to the grower.

The ultimate result is the maximization of revenues per hectare of land that is farmed. This is an important part of the sustainability and growth of these micro-enterprises. The increase in monies that go directly to the farmer plays a role in the overall improvement in their quality of life.

Micro Lending

As with any start-up enterprise, those initiated through Growers First programs require some initial capitalization in order to get the projects up and running. This start-up funding is crucial to getting farmers on the road to creating sustainable enterprises. Growers First facilitates micro-loans throughout all phases of its programs. In the initial stages, growers need seedlings and some basic tools and supplies to start their farms.

As they form a cooperative, they need start-up funds for construction and to get that operation underway. Livestock and animal husbandry also plays an important role in some aspects of development. As they progress in the programs, roasters and other processing equipment bring additional profitability to the cooperatives and growers.

Loans to farmers are typically in the $100 - $500 range and can increase to $5,000 to cooperatives or villages for processing equipment. Repayments typically come out of the crop sales after the harvest. Growers First has facilitated over a million dollars of loans without any defaults to date. Having funds available to allow growers and cooperatives creates the foundation and enables them to move along the developmental path of ongoing growth and sustainability as an enterprise.

Organic Certification

There is frequently a premium in the market of 25% or more placed on certified, organically grown commodities. A substantial component of organic growing is avoiding the use of chemicals in fertilizing and pest control. Frequently, for poor growers, they cannot afford the expense of man-made chemicals and pesticides and use more natural products to achieve those ends already.

Growers First partners with organic certification organizations such as Guaranteed Organic Certification Agency (GOCA) to provide the appropriate training of growers. They train them in the areas of organic composting and pest control and all other aspects required for the growers to achieve organic certification. The result is an improved crop value with typically only some minor changes in what they are already doing.

Transportation

A significant cost incurred by growers is the expense of getting their crops to processing facilities or to market. These costs can dig deeply into their margins. Under certain circumstances, Growers First provides trucks and other vehicles to communities which serve to facilitate many enterprise needs. In addition to transporting crops, they are used to pick up and deliver tools, supplies and other necessities for the growers.

These vehicles are valuable not only in the commercial arena but also in health and humanitarian situations. Typically there are no local facilities providing medical or dental care and in emergency situations, these vehicles are used to transport those in need of attention to professional facilities. They are also uses for transporting people to neighboring areas for educational, social or spiritual gatherings.