CANDY IV — specialised & integrated services for export-oriented food processing SMEs
The farmer cooperative “Mevahoi Firdavs” (Eden Fruits) was established. Its members are 32 dehkan Farms consisting of 148 farmers, including 83 women. In 2019, farmers from Eden Fruits exported their first piloted batch to European countries (Germany and Italy). Isfara Food LLC — a dried fruit processing company engaged in the value chain, assisted farmers to prepare products for export to European countries, including the right sorting, cleaning, calibration, and packaging, according to the requirements of European buyers. Annually, cooperative members produce about 300 tons of organic dried apricots.
Use case
Supply chain management
Funding
Hilfswerk International / EC
Focus Area
The project’s overall objective is to contribute substantially to promoting the growth and expansion of export-oriented SMEs, thus fostering the integration of CA countries into the global economy and trade system.
Strengthen the institutional, organizational and technical capacity of Business Intermediary Organizations (BIOs) to provide comprehensive and demand-driven services to export-oriented SMEs
Enhance the capacity of BIOs to analyse international demands and consult on international standards
Establish three agricultural value-added chains in TJ and KG with BIOs’ support and input
Establish State Support Programme for food processing SMEs in KG with BIOs’ support and input
Launch a National Platform between private sector and state authorities in TJK with BIOs’ support and input
Set up pilot scientific-entrepreneurial councils in KG and TJ
Establish a Network of BIOs from Central Asia and the European Union
Duration
December 15, 2016 – December 31, 2019
Coverage
Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan
Beneficiaries
Farmers and other agricultural producers, agricultural input suppliers, agricultural processing enterprises, consolidators, retailers, exporters, Business Intermediary Organizations (BIOs), Agricultural Extension Services (AESs), Financial institutions, relevant government agencies
Facilitation of the founding process of a farmer cooperative in Northern Tajikistan. During the mobilization process, several trainings about the legal base of cooperatives, teambuilding, and leadership were provided to the potential cooperatives’ members
Practical trainings for farmer cooperatives and processing companies were conducted on Organic Production and Fairtrade standards
Establishment of a system of quality control and a food safety system for the cooperative and 2 processing SMEs. Fairtrade principles were introduced in the farmer cooperative
Facilitation of the Organic and Fairtrade certifications of the cooperative
Two guidelines with specific and binding requirements about Organic and Fairtrade standards for the farmer cooperative were elaborated. These documents set up the rules of production, post-harvest management and processing methods and practice for cooperative members
