Before RECOCARNO the farmer cooperatives were largely isolated from each other and lacked the organisation, infrastructure and critical mass to change the business practices that were working against their long-term interests.

They were compelled by their circumstances to sell their coffee to local speculateurs (intermediary traders) for very low prices. The low rewards, lack of training and variable standards of product did not provide opportunities to change matters by accessing the returns available for high-quality, fairly traded coffee on the international markets.

The very low prices also encouraged a laissez-faire attitude to coffee, and there was little incentive to improve or even preserve the crop: coffee trees were sometimes cut down to make way for yams and other crops.

All this has changed: good quality coffee is now supplied to the demanding export market and the returns have helped to create a structure where training, information-sharing, quality control and a start on infrastructure improvement have become possible. All members of the co-operatives have a real motivation to work for continued change, and meaningful rewards for their efforts.