Organic turmeric, ginger and cinnamon from Madagascar
The smallholders of the MITSINJO cooperative have been growing ginger, turmeric and cinnamon since 2009. PRONATEC and our local partner PREMIUM SPICES have been buying their entire harvest since 2014 and supported MITSINJO throughout the organic and Fairtrade certification process. As a network of small-scale farmers across six villages, MITSINJO contributes to the development of the entire region around Anivorano.
Empowering farmers since 2009
The MITSINJO cooperative is situated near the harbour city of Tamatave in the eastern part of Madagascar. It was set up in 2009 with the aim to improve the economic situation of the inhabitants of rural areas by achieving better prices for their local produce. MITSINJO has been able to improve the quality of the raw food ingredients and promote sustainable agricultural practices ever since.
Latest Fairtrade projects
Empowering women
When the vanilla orchids are in full bloom, the flowers are pollinated by hand with spines from orange trees. Later, the farmers mark the green vanilla pods with their Today, more than half of the members of MITSINJO are women, who are particularly empowered as a result. In 2019, female members founded a women’s association within the cooperative with the aim to generate additional income. Since 2022, they have been selling their handicrafts, school supplies and other products in the cooperative’s own premises.
Fairtrade benefits local communities
The members of MITSINJO collectively decide how to use their Fairtrade premiums. In the past, they contributed to the construction of a local health centre and water supply systems. MITSINJO takes part in ongoing reforestation projects by planting cinnamon trees, in partnership with their commercial partner PREMIUM SPICES. Some of the Fairtrade premium is used for the payment of development bonuses to farmers, staff and seasonal staff. This allows farmers to prepare their plots, finance seedlings, purchase material and pay workers to increase yields on the long term.
Creating jobs through local value creation
Madagascar is one of the world’s leading exporters and producers of ginger. Where they cannot grow ginger and turmeric, which are annual cultures, the smallholders grow cinnamon trees in mixed agroforestry systems. The cutting and drying of ginger, turmeric and cinnamon is done by the smallholders themselves, creating jobs for the local people.
Advantages of Ceylon cinnamon and turmeric with high curcumin content
The Ceylon cinnamon trees grown by members of MITSINJO are part of the mixed forests of the Tamatave region. Ceylon cinnamon has significantly lower coumarin values than Cassia cinnamon, which is beneficial to the liver. The turmeric grown by MITSINJO farmers is characterised by its high curcumin content, which is an important sign of quality.
