Paraguay supply chain visits and Regional Meeting in Pictures, MarchApril 2007

Report and pictures by Simon Ferrigno, Farm Development Program Director

 

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Celia Roa, Head of Third Party Production at Arasy Organica, Paraguay, manages contracts and relationships with organic cotton farmers. Paraguay, March 2007

A town street, Paraguay. This  town, like many in the country, keeps alive the Ao Po'i traditional clothing style. Paraguay, March 2007
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A cotton quality training guide, Paraguay, March 2007 Arasy Organica use a small scale gin in order to preserve organic cotton seed, Guayavi, Paraguay, March 2007
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Transparency in action: bags of organic seed-cotton are marked at delivery to Arasy Organica with the farmers' name, and other data before loading and transport to the gin. Farmers are paid on the spot. Contracts are usually signed before planting begins. Guaya, Paraguay, March 2007 Organic cotton farmers working with Arasy, Guaya area, Paraguay, March 2007
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Organic cotton boll, Paraguay, March 2007

Daniel farms organic cotton and organic sugar cane in Guaya, Paraguay, March 2007
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An end of harvest organic cotton field, Paraguay, March 2007

A Rhea bird, Paraguay, March 2007
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 Mario Acosta, organic cotton farmer, Guaya, Paraguay, March 2007

 The children of Modesto Ayala watch on as we discuss organic cotton prospects, Santa Maria Misiones, Paraguay, March 2007
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 Benito Alcarez, Organic cotton farmer, sips Mate, Caaguazu, Paraguay, April 2007

 Organic cotton, Paraguay, April 2007
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 Faustino Ovieda, an organic cotton farmer supported by the Paraguayan NGO Altervida, Caaguazu, Paraguay, April 2007

  The Organic Exchange regional meeting for Latin America was hosted in Paraguay this year by the Arasy Organica company and the NGO Altervida, who provided tremendous support, ideas and enthusiasm. Both have been promoting organic cotton for several years. From left: Daniela Solis (Altervida), Alfonso Lizarraga (Organic Exchange), Mario Paredes (Altervida) and Olga Segovia (Arasy)
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 Much of Paraguay is wide open grassland devoted to extensive cattle rearing. Paraguay, April 2007

 A lot is also wetlands. Paraguay, April 2007
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 A welcome lunch halt, Caaguazu, Paraguay, April 2007

 Staff involved in the Ecotrading/Fondeca project, Paraguay, April 2007. Ecotrading and various partners are involved in organic and agro-ecological cotton farming in Paraguay.

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 An Ao Po'i shop, Paraguay, April 2007

 Alfonso Lizarraga models an Ao Po'i shirt, Paraguay, April 2007
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 This panel describes the origins of the typical Ao Po'i embroidery, Paraguay, April 2007

 The Arasy organic textiles shop in Asuncion. Arasy have pioneered the development of local organic textiles markets in Latin America. As well as four shops in Paraguay, they export to Argentina and Brazil. Paraguay, April 2007
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 The Arasy shop, Asuncion, Paraguay, April 2007

 Organic clothing on display, Asuncion, Paraguay, April 2007
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 The Arasy shop, exterior, Asuncion, Paraguay. This drive for local markets was much admired at the Regional Meeting and is likely to stimulate a push for local organic textiles markets across the region. Paraguay, April 2007

 The Organic Exchange Regional Meeting for Latin America was opened by Alfredo Molinas, Ing. Agr.  , Paraguayan Minister for Agriculture and Livestock, Asuncion, Paraguay, April 2007
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 Simon Ferrigno, Organic Exchange, presents the OE Farm Development Program, in the magnificent Lynch room, Gran Hotel del Paraguay, Asuncion, Paraguay, April 2007

 The Second Organic Exchange Regional Meeting for Latin America was held at the Gran Hotel del Paraguay, previously home of the Irish courtesan Mme Lynch. Asuncion, Paraguay, April 2007
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 Doraliz Aranda of Arasy Organica provided much organisational help AND was a fabulous  Mistress  of Ceremonies, Asuncion, Paraguay, April 2007

 James Vreeland of Peru Naturtex Partners gave an inspiring talk on the history and origins of cotton in Peru and South America, Asuncion, Paraguay, April 2007
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 Over 100 participants over three days, from Paraguay, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, the UK, Holland, France and the US were animated, enthusiastic and full of ideas for developing organic cotton regionally and Internationally. Paraguay, April 2007

 Celia Roa of Arasy joins a panel on organic seed development following a talk on seed development and breeding in Paraguay, April 2007
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 Pedro Jorge of ESPLAR in Brazil has some questions for the panel, Paraguay, April 2007

  The discussions and comments are plenty..., Paraguay, April 2007
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 The farmers' panel, featuring farmers from Arasy, Altervida and Ecotrading was one of the highlights of Day 1...Paraguay, April 2007  Faustino Oviedo talks about his experiences with organic cotton, Paraguay, April 2007
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 The meeting featured a small but well-stocked marketplace of locally-made organic clothing from Paraguay and Peru, while participants paraded in designs made across the region (Paraguay, Peru, Colombia, Mexico, Brazil), Paraguay, April 2007  More Latin American designs, Paraguay, April 2007
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 The Regional Meeting marketplace, Paraguay, April 2007 The Regional Meeting marketplace, Paraguay, April 2007
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 Arasy farmer Andres Garay gives an inspiring talk about organic farming and the changes it has made to him. He is nicknamed 'the poet'. Asuncion, Paraguay, April 2007  The meeting also featured fabulous food and more informal but animated discussions over lunch and coffee. Paraguay, April 2007
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 Much of the meeting focused on analysing the strengths and weakness of the organic cotton farming systems and supply chains across Latin America and laying the groundwork for a development strategy in future. Paraguay, April 2007  Olga Segovia of Arasy talking about the companies' business model and partnerships in Paraguay, April 2007
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 The audience is rapt...Paraguay, April 2007  Doraliz Aranda of Arasy talks about local and regional market development, Asuncion, Paraguay, April 2007
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 Hugo Cardenas of Oro Blanco in Peru talks about spinning and farming in Peru. In future, thanks to the Organic Exchange regional meetings, more regional supply chains may develop. Paraguay, April 2007.  Mario Paredes of Altervida struggles to keep up with the 'Lluvia de ideas' (rain of ideas) in one of the SWOT workshops, Paraguay, April 2007.
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 Roberto Rolon of the certifier IMO enjoys the spread at the Tuesday Regional Meeting buffet, Paraguay, April 2007  Restitution of workshop results, Paraguay, April 2007.
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 The Meeting concluded with a final panel discussion and Q&A with Alfonso Lizarraga moderating and Panelists Loula Mercedes of 1 Technology (Colombia and UK) and Maria Celia (Sao Paolo Regional Government). Paraguay, April 2007  The closing panelists, Paraguay, April 2007
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 Zenaida Cespedes of Peru, whose farmers' group supplies designer John Patrick through Malecon Chorillos in Mexico, has comments for the panel. Paraguay, April 2007  Many participants volunteer to promote organic cotton further, Paraguay, April 2007
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 Gifts in local traditional woodwork were presented to the helpers from hosts Arasy and Altervida.  Day 3 participants, Paraguay, April 2007
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 Regional meeting participants were delighted to be able to move from theory to practice at the Arasy shop...Paraguay, April 2007 Regional meeting participants were delighted to be able to move from theory to practice at the Arasy shop...Paraguay, April 2007
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 Following the main meeting, a groups of volunteers met to discuss completing the Regional Organic Cotton development strategy and to plan for the 2008 Regional Meetings in Brazil. Paraguay, 2007.  Day 4 saw a mammoth field trip begin with a visit to the Lioplant Spinning Mill, who have a justified reputation for producing high quality yarns. Paraguay, April 2007
The Lioplant Spinning Mill, Paraguay, April 2007 The Lioplant Spinning Mill, Paraguay, April 2007
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 Christina Wedell of the US Peace Corps and Doraliz Aranda of Arasy helped entertain the field visit group. Paraguay, April 2007

 This also took us past the highest peak in Paraguay...Paraguay, April 2007
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 Part of the field visit group, as we head for lunch. Paraguay, April 2007

 Which is not for vegetarians....Paraguay, April 2007

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 The field visit took in organic cotton fields in the final picking. Paraguay, April 2007

 As in many places, organic cotton in Paraguay is handpicked. Paraguay, April 2007
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 The group at lunch. Paraguay, April 2007

 The farm visit meal was cooked by local farmers and their families. Paraguay, April 2007
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 The Field visit also joined a Sustainable Development Round table at Villarica city hall, hosted by the City's agricultural secretary and featuring Henry Moriya of GTZ, one of the meeting's sponsor's. Paraguay, April 2007

 Several tour participants were interviewed for the local TV station. Paraguay, April 2007
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 The tour ended with a visit to another Arasy shop, featuring traditional Ao Po'i styles and demonstrations of traditional weaving and embroidery. Paraguay, April 2007

The tour ended with a visit to another Arasy shop, featuring traditional Ao Po'i styles and demonstrations of traditional weaving and embroidery. Paraguay, April 2007
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The tour ended with a visit to another Arasy shop, featuring traditional Ao Po'i styles and demonstrations of traditional weaving and embroidery. Paraguay, April 2007

The tour ended with a visit to another Arasy shop, featuring traditional Ao Po'i styles and demonstrations of traditional weaving and embroidery. Paraguay, April 2007
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The tour ended with a visit to another Arasy shop, featuring traditional Ao Po'i styles and demonstrations of traditional weaving and embroidery. Paraguay, April 2007

The tour ended with a visit to another Arasy shop, featuring traditional Ao Po'i styles and demonstrations of traditional weaving and embroidery. Paraguay, April 2007
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The tour ended with a visit to another Arasy shop, featuring traditional Ao Po'i styles and demonstrations of traditional weaving and embroidery. Paraguay, April 2007

The tour ended with a visit to another Arasy shop, featuring traditional Ao Po'i styles and demonstrations of traditional weaving and embroidery. Paraguay, April 2007
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 Staff and artisans at the Arasy shop in Villarica. Paraguay, April 2007  More local market development...Paraguay, April 2007
 
Manufacturing, Paraguay, April 2007