Monday, January 18, 2010 – Friday, January 22, 2010
Agriculture is probably one of the world’s oldest professions that are still in practice. But agriculture has evolved from the subsistence farming methods of the past to also become a means of promoting economic progress among communities Last week, on Twitter “Social Enterprise of the Day” we featured five organizations from across the world that are not only providing agricultural produce, but are also ensuring greater economic stability for participating farmers and communities.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Social Enterprise of the Day –Under the Mango Tree
Under the Mango Tree is an ethical, organic certified company which provides long-term market linkages between rural producers and urban consumers searching for pure, fairly-traded, organic certified agriculture and forest produce. Established by Vijaya Pastala, and built to enhance human and economic security, UTMT partners and supports rural farmers, producer networks and communities across India. UTMT works in organic certified and non-chemical managed agriculture and forest produce based on sustainable farming and fair trade practices.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Social Enterprise of the Day – Suminter
Suminter India Organics, a Mumbai-based company, was founded in 2003 on the notion that organic farming contracted out to small farmers in India would not only help fulfill the growing demand for organic produce but also lead the participating farmers to greater economic stability. With abusiness model that emphasizes the well-being of farmers, high-quality products and the environmental benefits of organic farming practices, Suminter’s integrated certification, training, farming, monitoring, processing and distribution, assures high-quality organic supply chain and guarantees the farmers a market for their crops.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Social Enterprise of the Day- Fighting Poverty with Organic Agriculture
Nazmi Ilicali, a farmer in Eastern Turkey has made organic agriculture the centerpiece in the fight against rural poverty. Ilicali’s efforts have gained him international attention as he was honored by the prestigious Ashoka Entrepreneur Trust. In an interview with nextbillion , Nazmi explains why he chose organic agriculture in a poverty stricken area, how he gathered financial and other support and how he has helped improve the lives of the union members by not only teaching them how to use farming tools but also making them computer literate and teaching English.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Social Enterprise of the Day – Backpack Farm
Started by Rachel Zedeck, The Backpack Farm Agriculture Program (BPF) targets rural farming communities to enhance “cooperative” farming development. The BPF is packaged as an all-in-one canvas backpack containing a unique blend of “fusion farming” and drip irrigation; the essential agriculture inputs needed for small landholders to standardize both the quality and quantity of agriculture production during an annual growing season, to mirror semi-commercial rates of production. The backpack is a modular system and is customized depending on the final crops chosen for production and inputs have been packaged specifically for small landholders growing on as little as a quarter of an acre. The Backpack Farm is not only a kit of materials but also a program that facilitates income generation, human resources development, capacity building training, enhanced nutrition models, gender equality, conservation farming and water management techniques to stabilize both food and human security models in Africa’s developing economies.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Social Enterprise of the Day – Big Tree Farms
Big Tree Farms is committed to supporting the preservation of traditional sustainable industries throughout the culturally rich islands of Indonesia through a process called “Market-Driven Conservation.” The vision of Big Tree Farms was to create a model for successful small-scale sustainable agriculture in the humid tropics. With a philosophy that balances ecology with economy and values the power of education as the precipitator of change, Big Tree Farms has become not only a successful “green” business, but also a successful leader in the empowerment of local communities.
