Farmer stories from Uganda
"...What a great start for the group [of farmers] and all of us really in bettering the lot of our people, especially when the worldwide food crisis is so acute now. In fact, our casual (part-time) workers keep asking me when they can get more work as they are facing acute food shortages on account of very high prices. So as you can see, your ordering this pineapple...is a big boost indeed...."
-Exerpt from an email sent to the supply chain manager from the husband and wife team of organic pineapple farmers working with Kopali Organics in Uganda
Kopali sources our organically grown Pineapple from two countries, depending on the growing season. From April through June, we utilize the crops of small farmers in Honduras, and the rest of the year, we use the harvest of a cooperative in Uganda.
Both countries have had turbulent histories, in particular Uganda. The husband and wife who own the 1500-acre farm from which we source our Pineapple fled their homeland for Canada in 1972, shortly after Idi Amin ousted Uganda's existing government, dissolved the country's parliament, declared himself ‘president', and amended the constitution to grant himself absolute power. During this difficult time, hundreds of thousands of other Ugandans also fled the country.
In 1979, the Tanzanian army (backed by Ugandan exiles) ousted Amin's troops and the Libyan soldiers who had been supporting him. Amin finally fled the country on April 11th. The worst was over, but more turmoil followed in the decades that followed. However, in the mid-nineties when many properties in Uganda were finally being returned to their rightful owners, the couple returned home to reclaim their farm.
They first cleared approximately 430 acres that they soon converted into certified organic lands, growing fruits, herbs and chilies for export. Their farm recently received the Demeter Organic Certification, the only one in Sub-Saharan Africa. They now support 140 smaller organic farmers, whose products make up the bulk of their exports.
According to the couple, their vision is:
"...to contribute to Uganda's efforts in poverty eradication by sharing our knowledge, resources and experience with all stakeholders. We support our farmers in every way we can - by training them, transferring skills, and certifying them... We offer above-average wages to all our employees (135 total) and fair prices respectively to our farmers. In this way, we are supporting about 275 families, totaling almost 600 people. We have donated land for a school, mosque, and church at our farm while supporting other children with school fees and the out growers [small organic farmers] with buildings - a storage shed [for their tools] and one for their produce. Last Christmas, we donated mosquito nets to all our out growers and workers at the farm. This year, we hope to open up about 300 [additional] acres at our farm and settle some of the poor, destitute families who will then grow the produce for us as our out growers. We believe in gender equality and employ a fair number of women at our farm and in our packing yard. Our management team consists of Ugandans who have enjoyed [our] support for their education, trips abroad, and general enhancement of their skills."
