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Farmer Associations

Well-Organized Associations


Farmer associations gain many benefits thanks to being a well-organized and legally recognized group. They can access government aid programs, get credit and are attractive partners for non-profit and university programs. Further, they can make bulk purchases of the agricultural products they need and can find stable buyers for their produce. Organization into a farmer association is a sign of the strong initiative and dedication of a community, and these associations are often the most ready to incorporate sustainable growing practices.

Though the organization of farmers association can greatly facilitate the movement to sustainable agriculture, most farming associations still rely on conventional growing methods.

Semilla Nueva addresses this issue in two ways:

		Experimentation We do collaborative experiments with associations to prove that sustainable growing can be economically profitable on their land. First, we learn about the problems the association is facing and the resources they have available. Second, we present different sustainable technologies and help them select the most beneficial for their community. We then design a community research project to experiment with growing solutions. The association is responsible for day-to-day maintenance and measurements, while Semilla Nueva provides supplies and technical assistance. At the end of our test, we help assess results and assist community leaders in teaching these new methods to their association.
		Developing Connections Knowing how to grow good crops isn’t the only task with which farmers are faced. They may need credit to buy supplies, quality storage facilities to protect against pests, or good market access for selling their produce. There are many organizations that provide solutions to these problems, but most farmers do not have access to information about them. Semilla Nueva connects associations to a variety of organizations and services, such as microcredit, certification, fair markets, drip irrigation, pest resistant storage, alternative energy, and more. These connections enable communities to take control of their futures and develop as they see fit.

Click here to see examples of our work