CONACADO, Dominican Republic
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--- Pilar Severino CONACADO (National Confederation of Dominican Cocoa Producers) is one of the Dominican Republic's top three cocoa exporters, selling around 25 percent of annual national production. Around 85 percent of cocoa grown by CONACADO’s members is certified organic and most is grown under the shade of canopy fruit-producing trees.
Founded in 1988 as a response to low global cocoa prices, CONACADO aims to decrease members' dependency on middlemen by exporting their products directly to consumer markets. CONACADO is a democratically-run cooperative made up of 182 small-scale producer associations from eight regional ‘blocks’ and has a total membership of 10,000 cocoa farmers. The average farm is 4.3 hectares (10.6 acres).
Sales to the Fair Trade market have enabled CONACADO to set up a nursery that supplies low-cost plants to farmers so that they can grow most of their own food. Cocoa accounts for 90 percent of CONACADO's members’ cash income, so becoming Fair Trade Certified by Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International (FLO) has made a significant difference in the farmers’ lives.
The Fair Trade premium has enabled CONACADO to establish various social and productive programs.
Community Investment:
Conacado allocated Fair Trade premium funds to build a new computer center and a community center with a meeting room in the community of La Milagrosa. Students of cooperative members of La Milagrosa use the new computer center to help them with their homework. Before this computer center was built, students had to travel 14 kilometers to get to a computer.
Education:
CONACADO supported the construction of a new school and contributed to school repairs in five regional sections of the coop. Low-income students received scholarships and school materials to support their studies.
Productive Investment:
By storing crops in warehousing facilities and transporting members' crops to market, CONACADO helps members attain higher prices. CONACADO has also helped improve the quality of their cocoa by constructing five new fermentation centers, roughly 8 new drying centers, and two central warehouses. In addition, CONACADO contributed to a community center and library, and improved access to potable water.
Credit Program:
The cooperative provides members with interest-free loans and access to credit.
Income Generation:
'Cocoa Tour' eco-tourism program teaches international visitors about cocoa farming and the impact of Fair Trade. Farmers are trained as tour guides. The Women’s Community Group is part of the tour - women from cocoa-growing families have started businesses making cocoa wine, jams, bakery goods, chocolate truffles and community crafts displayed and sold from an artisan hut. Profits are used to help those in need.
Health:
The co-op invested in a rural health care clinic for a community whose clinic did not meet basic minimum conditions. The co-op also provided free medical assistance and informational sessions on STDs.
Transportation Improvements:
CONACADO contributed to local road and bridge maintenance. |
Fair Trade Cocoa 
