One may ponder, how does Fairtrade support their producers in increasing sales? In response, Fairtrade NAPP took decisive steps to enhance the sales and quality of its products in response to the feedback regarding the quality of vanilla delivered last year. This included activities to forecast production and sales for cassava root and vanilla, identify new potential cassava roots milling in Wonosobo, and arrange farm visits by PT Sekar Laut and Fairtrade Original. 16 leaders from 3 producer organizations and 1 trader participated in these initiatives. These activities involved visits to potential new cassava milling sites in Wonosobo, preparation meetings with SPO for Sekar Laut and Fairtrade Original farm visits, travel from Yogyakarta to Salatiga to Pati, meetings with farmer members and the milling facilities, and two-day visits by Sekar Laut and Fairtrade Original, concluding with travel from Pati to Salatiga to Yogyakarta.
During the initiative, the participants proposed new potential milling sites to Sekar Laut and Fairtrade Original. Subsequently, the evaluation team visited the new milling sites in Wonosobo for further evaluation. The main product at the Wonosobo milling is wet tapioca starch, whereas the current milling can produce dried and polished tapioca starch of higher quality. The cost of production at Wonosobo is significantly lower. However, unlike in Pati, where cassava roots are the main crop, horticulture is the primary source of income in Wonosobo. Production in 2024 is expected to start in mid to late 2024, with four members agreeing to supply to the SPO in the next harvest.
There was also an agreement among Sekar Laut, SPO, and Fairtrade Original to continue using the current milling for processing cassava roots into tapioca starch. However, peelers will be provided under the management of the small producer organizations. Sekar Laut proposed venturing into a territory with new product with shrimp content. Fairtrade Original also proposed an alternative instant cooking paste product to Sekar Laut for further discussions.
The price of cassava roots has increased over the past 3-4 months. If this trend continues, the cost of production will become extremely high. Consequently, both Sekar Laut and Fairtrade Original are unable to issue purchase contracts at this time and prefer to wait until prices stabilize. Through these initiatives and collaborations, Fairtrade NAPP aims to improve product quality, enhance sales, and support the livelihoods of farmers and producers involved in the cassava and vanilla supply chains.
