Where the cooperative’s technical support comes from

A small cooperative does not solve everything on its own. Much of what COOPERANTE is able to deliver to its members — technical assistance, help with paperwork, access to technology — arrives through public institutions that support family farming. This is where things stand today, with no promises about tomorrow.

EMPAER-MT

EMPAER-MT, the state’s rural technical assistance and extension service, works with the cooperative on three fronts:

• Cacao clones — introducing new clones to the region, with technical follow-up on the crop
• Beekeeping — placing hives alongside the coffee, aimed at productivity gains through pollination
• Local technical assistance — field work directed at Taquaruçu do Norte

EMPAER-MT was also among the institutions that made up the programme of the 2nd Field Day in May.

SEAF

The cooperative is in contact with the State Secretariat for Family Farming regarding the state programmes aimed at family producers. It is the institutional front door for much of what is discussed here.

Sebrae

In July the cooperative hosted Sebrae at its shed in Taquaruçu do Norte to discuss support for running the cooperative as a business. Sebrae is a non-profit body that supports small enterprises, and the discussion covered management, formalisation and routes to market.

SEMA-MT

With the state environmental agency the relationship has two strands: fire prevention and response, which in this region is a matter of the growing season rather than of paperwork, and environmental compliance — working through the fines and embargoes affecting land in Taquaruçu do Norte. A producer with an outstanding environmental issue cannot reach credit or public programmes, and clearing that is a precondition for everything else.

Colniza Rural Union

The Colniza Rural Union (SRCOL) works with the cooperative on CAF registration — the national family-farmer credential that identifies a producer to public programmes. In August the cooperative accompanied the union through another round of registration in the community. Members who do not yet hold a CAF can contact the cooperative.

SRCOL also took part in the 2nd Field Day programme.

SENAR-MT and IFMT

SENAR Mato Grosso and the Federal Institute of Mato Grosso took part in the 2nd Field Day in May, with technical talks and guidance for the membership. These are the institutions the cooperative turns to on training and qualification.

A note on wording

The cooperative avoids the word “partnership” for anything not yet signed. What is described above is technical and institutional support already under way — meetings held, technicians in the field, registrations completed. When an agreement is formalised, it will be published here using that word.

Institutions wishing to speak with the cooperative will find the channels on the Partnerships page.