Producers in the southern Amazon take care of the forests

At the age of 17, Vicente Medina began his trade as a Farmer. “When I began, I worked with a group of six friends; we had naranjilla, corn and other crops.” He planted coffee and cocoa year after year. However, due to the geographical conditions of the area where his farm is located, he abandoned cocoa and concentrated on coffee and bananas.

Vicente was born in Zamora Chinchipe and belongs to APEOSAE (Association of small organic agricultural exporters of the Ecuadorian Amazon). At 21, he sold products to the organization; in 2017, he became part of the internal control system of the federation, and is now the president of APEOASE.

Initially, APEOSAE marketed raw materials. After eight years, it became a second level organization and registered as a Federation; it currently benefits 180 families of producers from Zamora Chinchipe and Morona Santiago.

APEOSAE has its headquarters in Panguinza parish of Centinela del Cóndor canton in Zamora Chinchipe, and a processing plant for banana snacks and cocoa paste. Its products reach markets in Europe, North America, and other areas. For North America, APEOSAE provided banana snack and cocoa paste processing and maquila services to several industries in the country.

Part of PROAmazonía’s intervention in the six Amazonian provinces is its support for this Association to encourage a transition to sustainable, deforestation-free production. According to the REDD+ Action Plan, Forests for Good Living, 99% of the deforested area of Ecuador is used for agriculture. Therefore, it is important to work with producers in the southern Amazon to conserve the valuable forest cover they have. Ministry of Environment and Water (MAAE) records from 2016-2018 show that gross annual deforestation in Morona Santiago was 12,326.4 hectares and in Zamora Chinchipe, it was 7,117 hectares.

Vicente and his colleagues from APEOSAE are known for taking care of the forests. He and his colleagues have obtained organic certification. “Our plantations are agroecological and we are in process of obtaining deforestation-free and good agricultural practices certification.” Producers recognize the importance of conserving forests. It is a shared benefit for human beings and production, he noted, “By caring for the forests we ensure water reserves, breathe pure air and have good water.”

The Federation strives to improve the producers’ quality of life. Its leadership includes women and 25% of its members are women, and this is expected to continue growing. “We have women in surveillance, on the board of directors, and also in the workforce that APEOSAE is developing.” It is hoped that the organization will soon be more sustainable and competitive. APEOASE did not stop working during the pandemic and it has incorporated several innovations, especially in marketing, to ensure that its product continues to be exported. It also protected the health of all its associates. With the help of the program, a contingency protocol was devised, technical and administrative staff acquired biosecurity supplies and PROAmazonía will soon donate equipment and signage to 22 coffee, cocoa, palm and livestock producer associations in the Amazon.

“It has been good to have the support of PROAmazonía since 2018, through a commercial and administrative strategy developed with growing with your business methodology. Through its support, we were able to participate in the international Fruit Logistics fair in Germany, and soon, we will be upgrading the collection centers to increase our processing volumes.”

PROAmazonía is a program of the Ecuadorian Ministries of Environment and Water and Agriculture and Livestock and is implemented with support from the United Nations Development Program; it coordinates national efforts to reduce deforestation with the priority agendas and policies of the country’s economic sectors.