My name is Peter de Hoogh and I have been working at COMADEP for over 3 years in the area of agricultural marketing. After having studied Development Economics at the Wageningen University in Holland, I wanted to support small farmers in developing countries in the commercialization of their agricultural products. Although the most significant marketing problems of these farmers relate to macro-economic policies, I learned that improvements within this setting were also possible at the farmgate level. Especially by organizing themselves, small farmers are more able to influence their own development.

In august 2000, I got the opportunity to work with the team of COMADEP in order to start a process of commercialization with the cooperatives that are member of FECAIRAN, a federation of agrindustrial cooperatives in the state of Petén.

Peter de Hoogh is a dutch economist working
in agricultural marketing
————————————————————

The main objective of this commercialization project is the economic development of the farmers and their families through the establishment of an alternative marketing system that guarantees the farmers a fair price for their products.

The lack of marketing opportunities has contributed to the fact that the majority of small farmers in Petén keep depending on crops that are not very profitable, like maize and beans.

Through the commercialization project we try to open new markets for non-traditional products and we promote the industrialization of the agricultural products within the cooperatives. By doing so, a higher added value is kept in hands of the farmers. Besides, employment opportunities are being created, fostering the local economy in the villages.

Now, three years after the start of this project, all the cooperatives of FECAIRAN have their own trained commercialization committees, their small warehouses, their means of communication and accessible roads.

We commercialize different products among which pumpkin seeds, peanuts, rice, sesame seeds and chilli's, and currently marketing studies are being conducted for other potential agricultural products.

The presence of FECAIRAN has helped to regulate the prices of the agricultural products, not only in the cooperatives of FECAIRAN, but also in nearby villages. Besides, part of the profits gained with the marketing activities go back to the farmers according to the amount of products that they sold to their federation.

We hope that with the support of COMADEP and with the continuation of the commercialization project, FECAIRAN and its members will take another step forwards toward their socio-economic development.