At AlterNativa3, in the current health crisis, we are closely monitoring the impact of this pandemic on the fair trade cooperatives with which we collaborate in countries of the global south.
AlterNativa3 cocoa comes from the non-profit fair trade organisation FUNDOPO (Fundación Dominicana de Productores Orgánicos) in the Dominican Republic, formed by women and men dedicated to the production of organic cocoa and other crops. This organisation groups 67 Productive Units, with 1500 organic cocoa producers from the regions of Villa Altagracia, Yamasá, Puerto Plata, Joba and Blanco Arriba, Nagua, El Seibo and Salcedo.
Its main objectives are: to achieve the integral development of the producers' economy (promoting environmentally sustainable national and foreign investment), the equitable distribution of goods and services and the improvement of the quality of life of its members. They also protect and preserve natural resources in order to guarantee the sustainability and biodiversity of the immediate environment. In addition, they work to design and promote the programme that enables the integral development of women and girls in the municipality of Villa Altagracia.
Visit their website for more details: http://www.fundopo.org
In the Dominican Republic, according to statistics from the Ministry of Health, thousands of cases of covid-19 were already registered at the end of April. The 44% of the cases are in Santo Domingo and the National District, the most populated areas. In rural areas, fewer infections have been recorded, and as far as the FUNDOPO organisation is concerned, no infections have been reported.
The organisation's staff work with the stipulated protective measures, with all the necessary equipment to avoid contagion, and have obtained the relevant permits to continue operating.
The organisation tells us that, this time, it seems that, for once, the productive community is not strongly affected, as is being observed in the cities and towns with more inhabitants. Rather, they have seen a greater availability of labour, which has arisen because many of the businesses and factories (especially in free trade zones) have closed their doors. The Dominican government has extended the emergency measures until 20 May 2020, so businesses that are not part of the basic supply sector will remain closed.
- 05-05-20
