Growing Business Alliances through Bolivian Quinoa

These include guidance in organic fertilization, irrigation and other techniques to improve soil health and crop yield; social programs, such as developing strong governance structures and achieving Fair Trade certification; and financial programs, such as teaching basic accounting and administrative practices and providing access to credit in the form of rotating loan funds.

Supply chain partner Kashi has been working with farmers through their "Lights On" project, which aims to bring electricity to farmers via solar panels. The response from farmers has been overwhelming. Many say it has enabled their children to study and complete homework after sunset.

To further improve livelihood and crop productivity, JISA has been installing irrigation wells. The wells — now in eight communities — allow farmers to double the productivity of quinoa to 1,200-1,450 kg per hectare. In addition to increased income, the irrigation wells also protect against loss of the entire crop to drought — an extremely important safeguard for farmers whose livelihoods depend on this single crop.

The Fair Trade Foundation recently reported that women make up an average of 43 percent of the agricultural labor force in the developing world, and yet have much lower productivity per hectare than men because they have less access to agricultural credit, own less land and livestock, and are rarely targeted for agronomy extension services. To address this issue, JISA is focusing on women's empowerment in the quinoa supply chain. Training workshops have been conducted focusing on educating women farmers as well as increasing acceptance of female leadership within trade associations. The group is focused on developing leadership and business skills, and over the past two years has organized learning events such as sponsoring female quinoa farmers to attend U.S. trade shows, arranging a visit to a female-led Ecuadorian quinoa cooperative, and organizing a women's farmer summit in Bolivia.