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Following on from the International Year of Co-operatives, the United Nations has named 2013 as the International Year of Quinoa and the International Year of Water Cooperation.
Co-operatives continue to be an important part of these International Years, helping to spread water co-operation and enable small quinoa farmers to gain access to the global market.
A gluten-free, and organic whole grain, quinoa has become increasingly popular among Western states, mainly due to its high nutrition value. Producers across Bolivia rely on quinoa to earn their living. The grain-like crop grows in areas where nothing else can be cultivated and countries like Bolivia, Peru or Ecuador are highly dependent upon it.
Jhon Garcia, General Manager of APQUISA (Asociación de Productores de Quinua Salinas), a Fairtrade association of 181 members, said it is impossible for small Bolivian producers to gain access to the global market unless they join an association or become a member of a co-op. With the recent increase in demand in Western states for quinoa, farmers need to unite in order to meet this type of demand.
Weather fluctuations are a big challenge for farmers because they can lead to a poor harvest. The co-op structure empowers quinoa farmers, enabling them to face these challenges together.
Irrigation is another challenge for farmers across the world. An increased demand for water access, allocation and services, along with poor water management has in some areas led to conflict situations.
According to the UN, the objective of the International Year of Water Cooperation is to raise awareness, both on the potential for increased co-operation, and on the challenges facing water management.
In the Far North of New Zealand a co-operative has become the solution to years of disputes over water access. Before the Kerikeri Irrigation co-op scheme was built, there was so much pressure on the local streams and rivers that in times of drought neighbours argued over who has the right to take water.
Bill Hunter, General Manager, Kerikeri Irrigation said the co-op structure works very well by joining together a large number of local farmers and horticulturists. Kerikeri currently has around 350 shareholder members who are supplied with water. The co-op has a board of seven directors elected on a rotating basis. With long droughts during summer, supplementary irrigation is necessary to ensure a high quality harvest.
The irrigation co-operative harvests the water in the high rainfall times and stores this in its reservoirs for distribution during drier periods. This has reduced the pressure on the local rivers, helping to protect their natural flow.
“As we now harvest the water in the winter and store it in two large reservoirs for supply during the drier months this has alleviated any water shortages. The company has become the major supplier of a reliable water supply to the wider Kerikeri Area servicing approximately 2500 hectares of irrigable land,” said Mr Hunter.
Bill Hunter said co-ops could also help to address the issue of water sanitation by raising awareness of its importance.
Photo: Sergio Nuñez, founder of Andean Naturals, helping out with the harvest.
