Creating economic opportunities in multiple regions in Indonesia, NCBA CLUSA is partnering with McCormick Spices and Cooperative Business International (CBI) on the new $13 million five-year USDA | Indonesia Spice Trade Alliance (ISTA) project.
Funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the project has the following objectives: 1) increase productivity and efficiency in three Indonesian spice value chains (black pepper, cinnamon and vanilla) by strengthening the capacities of farmers, cooperatives and other private entities; and 2) improve and expand the trade of black pepper, cinnamon and vanilla products.
The project will achieve the second objective by improving crop quality to meet international standards; strengthening cooperatives; strengthening public-private partnerships; connecting farmers and cooperatives with Indonesian and U.S. international spice traders; improving environmental resiliency, Rainforest Alliance (RA) certification and crop diversity; and linking recent university graduates to careers in extension services.
The project aims to reach 14,000 farmers through 560 farmer groups with a focus on vanilla, black pepper and cinnamon commodities. This public-private partnership works through international regulations and standards to expand global trade in spices to meet growing demands worldwide, while improving spice farmers’ climate resilience. USDA | ISTA will support six farmer cooperatives/associations to improve their procurement, record keeping and management functions.
Since 1977, NCBA CLUSA has consistently worked in Indonesia to provide income-generating activities and new employment for people at the grassroots level, including setting up several businesses.NCBA CLUSA is currently active in Indonesia with the Feed the Future Sustainable Cooperative Agribusiness Alliance (SCAA).