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Trading coconuts
In Samoa, Oxfam's enterprising partner WIBDI has already turned coconuts into a viable income for more than 200 rural families, enabling a break-through contract to supply virgin coconut oil to cosmetic giant The Body Shop.
Products containing WIBDI's organic virgin coconut oil are now on the shelves in The Body Shop stores around the world.
- Watch the 2007 Campbell Live video on WIBDI's organic coconut oil contract with The Body Shop
WIBDI's latest venture is to export organic bananas to New Zealand. The first trial shipment has already arrived on our shores. These tiny “Misiluki” bananas are delicious, super sweet and 100% certified organic – the first imported bananas to NZ that haven’t been fumigated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF).
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WIBDI's latest venture is to export organic bananas to New Zealand. |
Oxfam is supporting WIBDI to work towards Fairtrade certification for their bananas. This will bring improved access to niche international markets, and will also guarantee the bananas are grown sustainably and the farmers get a good price. Keep an eye out for Samoan “Misiluki” bananas in stores soon!
WIBDI is working in 150 rural villages across Samoa, supporting a range of community-based projects aimed at alleviating poverty, creating sustainable village economies and revitalising the agricultural sector.
Oxfam Unwrapped in Samoa
By buying a gift of coconuts from Oxfam Unwrapped you can help more growers gain organic certification for their crops. Take a look at Oxfam Unwrapped's gifts with a difference and help lift people out of poverty, for good.
Trading coconuts - The WIBDI story
Adimaimalaga Tafuna’I, Executive Director of Women in Business Development Incorporated tells the story:
In 1991, seven women wanting to start their own businesses established Women in Business Development Incorporated after facing difficulties securing bank loans. With support from a number of agencies, including Oxfam New Zealand, the group has grown significantly since then and is now active in 150 rural villages across Samoa, supporting a range of community-based projects aimed at alleviating poverty, creating sustainable village economies and revitalizing the agricultural sector.
We decided to focus on job creation at the village level, and on finding opportunities and technologies aimed at production for export to niche markets. Microfinance projects are the cornerstone of our activities. Income-generating activities include coconut oil production, organic farming, beekeeping, fine mat production and handicrafts.
The rural economy of Samoa has fared less well in recent years in comparison to other Pacific economies. The 1990-91 cyclones devastated local village life, causing long-term damage to the coconut and cocoa plantations, destroying 20 percent of the trees. The taro leaf blight in 1993 devastated much of the staple crop that year.
The move to produce organic virgin coconut oil was prompted by the decline in copra prices, the traditional major product of coconut. Many villagers lost their livelihoods.
In 1995, we came across a new small-scale technology for the production of coconut oil, direct micro expelling (DME), which was simple and required very little training.
We have protected Samoan traditions, keeping the project within family groups who remain in the rural villages and now produce the coconut oil, a pure version of an ancient product. The coconuts are sourced from plantations of traditionally-owned lands, with acres of trees that have been under-utilised until now.
The Virgin Coconut Oil project now involves more than 200 organically-certified farmers and their extended families. Women involved in the project are experiencing increased status in their villages with their new economic power. The income is vital to their families’ livelihoods and security. For some this has enabled them to pay for their children’s education, for others it has reduced their dependence on remittances from family member working overseas.
A New Zealand-owned company with Samoan links, the Pure Coconut Oil Company now markets the product, with exports to Australia, United States and New Zealand. Key to the ongoing success of the project will be finding and sustaining more overseas outlets for virgin coconut oil.
With Oxfam’s support, we aim to establish a Samoan organic farming industry that is based on the principles of Fair Trade Organic certification.
 Fancy a cuppa? Host your own Coffee Break at this delicious Fairtrade fundraiser!
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