TDC supports Palestinian farmers

Palestinian farmers

We zoom in on an organisation that TDC hase supported over the past few years in Palestine's West Bank. In 2006, theFair Trade Development Centre (FTDC) was established with European support at Bethlehem University. The first actions of this centre focused on fair trade certification of Palestinian olive oil and access to the European fair trade market. Today, it mainly focuses on the many farmer cooperatives and small enterprises that form the backbone of the Palestinian economy but often lack the business skills and networks to make the most of their potential.

The TDC started to work with the FTDC in 2009 and extended its cooperation in 2014. “In a fragile context the FTDC has succeeded in helping often very vulnerable farmer cooperatives in several respects,” says Steven De Craen, TDC's Financial Support Officer. “The story of these cooperatives is one of transition towards a more business-minded approach. When such approach generates stable and increased revenue, social aspects can also be strengthened.”

Step by step

The strategy is the following: FTDC selects a batch of cooperatives and coaches them over a period of time in view of them becoming role models for others. Training is key: at the University leaders of the selected cooperatives can obtain a degree in ‘cooperative management’ and staff members are trained in accounting, inventory management or marketing. A small grant is made available to each cooperative for micro investments like for instance the purchase of a fruit press or the installation of a small cooling unit to preserve vegetables.

Earlier, participation to fair trade fairs and festivals showed that most Palestinian cooperatives are not yet ready to export their products. Elementary matters such as quality, presentation and packaging or the making of promotion materials have to be addressed first. Also, research showed that the inhabitants of Palestinian cities often have doubts about the quality and hygiene of local products. That is why it is essential to develop quality control procedures and to have products certified under the quality label of the Palestinian Authority.

Results are achieved step by step: Six supermarkets in Bethlehem now offer products of local cooperatives. For the next phase there are plans to approach hotels and restaurants in the city's tourism district and to establish contacts with Palestinian wholesalers. Many other cooperatives have shown great interest, so it is expected that the approach will be rolled out further.